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kirindensetsu · 3 years

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The Making of Fubuki

((Reposting from Den of Angels workshop thread because I wanted my friends to be able to see~))

After years of pining after dolls I couldn't afford as a broke teenager, my first BJD was a Bobobie Sprite I purchased for my 18th birthday. Unfortunately, she didn't live up to my expectations and I never really bonded with her. Her face was cute enough, but the Bobobie body lacked the grace and posing ability I imagined for the Unseelie faerie I'd been daydreaming of for years. Sueding and wiring didn't help, blushing and tattooing highlighted her blockiness, it was a mess. I packed her away and tried not to think about my disappointment for 12 years. In the meantime I learned to build and paint resin garage kits, inherited one of my sister's dolls, bought some others, took anatomy & physiology in college, and did a couple extensive restorations and full-body modifications. I was sure I had thrown her away at some point as a failed project, but last weekend I found her tucked away in a doll bag I thought was empty. Having just finished substantial mods on a Dollshe body, and awaiting an unfinished Unoa kit for my birthday in September, I decided that I owed it to her to try again. Doll nudity below the cut, looooong post--

My Sprite was originally going to be a pooka with golden eyes and extensive woad tattoos. The golden eyes are incredible, so those are staying, but she's now going to be a blue oni to fit in with the rest of my collection. My plan is to do extensive additive epoxy work, and then to use Krylon Fusion to give everything a unified finish. The goal of the project is to reduce the... idk, STRAIGHTNESS of the old Bobobie body. I was never going to be happy with it, the lines were all far too rigid.

Head: Modified mouth for a wider, smirking smile. Magnets added to headcap (old Bobobie used an S-hook iirc; I did this part back in 2008). Forehead drilled for 3mm brass rod armature, and epoxy used to sculpt horns over rod. Bust: Substantial subtractive modifications to breasts, which involved removal and readdition of nipples. Addition of epoxy clay to back and shoulders to give a more curved body line in profile. Deepening of shoulder sockets with 18mm eye bevel, followed by sanding to make shoulders narrower. Waist: Reshaping of upper torso joint into sphere for smoother range of motion. Subtraction of resin in back and addition of epoxy in front to enhance lumbar curve. Hips: Substantial reshaping of lower waist seam to more naturally follow the pelvic girdle. It reminded me of granny panties before Added epoxy to butt, again for lumbar curve. Thighs: Suwariko joint mod (cut the thigh and added a PVC insert to enable swivelling at the hip). Added epoxy to make her thighs look less straight. Calves: Removed 1cm of length at the ankles and rebevelled the socket. Removed resin at the ankles to bring them in, and added epoxy at the calves to make them curvier. Feet: Sculpted little claws, which were cute, and then decided the feet needed to be 5mm longer. Cut across, drilled and pinned with brass rod for structural strength, gap filled with epoxy clay. I also modded her feet to have defined arches and balls back when I first got her. Alas, spitting into the ocean. I added S-hooks, but did so by drilling the ankle and inserting brass rod to form the axle for the hook. Arms: The proportions on her upper arms BOTHERED me! they were so SHORT! and I only just figured out that's what I hated about them last week! I added 5mm to the upper arms by cutting them in the middle and using SteelStik to make a structural repair (plumber's epoxy putty has a shorter open time but far greater structural strength than artist's epoxy clay). Sanded the heck out of the wrists to give them a more delicate taper. Hands: Beyond salvage. The hands were my least-favorite part of this sculpt. I tried to bulk them up to look less spidery but it was just too difficult... I've ordered a different pair of MSD hands which will have claws added, and then when everything is painted it'll all match. Thanks for reading this far! Here's a preview of what her golden eyes look like next to Krylon Fusion in Antique Blue.

((first progress post)) I think I'm mostly done adding epoxy clay (at least where it'll show; presumably the wrist sockets will require tweaks to fit the new hands), so now it's time for finish sanding. I start with 60 grit for shaping, then switch to a 120 grit sanding sponge. To check for scratches, pinholes, and inadequately feathered edges, I apply a wash of diluted acrylic paint. Once the paint has dried, I scrub the piece with a nylon scouring pad. Paint remains in the surface irregularities.

All sanded with 220 grit. I don't think I'll be going higher than 400 because I want there to be some tooth for the paint.

Any pitting in the epoxy clay that can't be sanded out is marked with a Sharpie and will be patched with Tamiya spot putty.

I did a test spray of the Krylon Fusion on the headcap and it's fantastic! Holy cow is it *poisonous* tho, I'm used to working with volatile chemicals but this was something else. Get OUT OF THE AREA between coats and leave it outside until it stops outgassing, not just until it's ready to handle.

This test piece is four light coats sprayed 1 minute apart, allowed to cure for 4 hours, and then wetsanded to remove the spray texture. It's pretty sturdy but I will wait several more days to see how it continues to cure before experimenting with matte sealants. ((progress update 2))

Haven't done much but sand-and-fill-and-sand-and-fill, but my 14mm beveller came in today so I can start deepening her elbow and ankle sockets. Added some epoxy clay to the insides of the eyewells so 14mm eyes will fit with no gap. I need a needle file to clean up the corners of her mouth... Monster feets! Nails on the right came out better than the left, still need to feather-sand everything.

Elbows progress. The early Bobobie elbows are I guess /technically/ double-jointed because the joint is a sphere with two slots, but I thought I could do better than that. You can see epoxy clay spliced in to make the sphere into a peanut: this isn't a structurally sound repair unless you pop it apart and drill/pin/glue-epoxy it back together.

View from the back. By keeping the joint heads spherical with no elbow-shaped detailing, there's some rotation as well as flexion, which I like.

Touching her face with one of her old hands. I hope the new ones come soon!

((progress update 4))

In good news, these parts are all ready for paint! It's really hard to do prepwork with no filler primer, hope I didn't miss any spots...

In less good news, her new hands arrived and they are... very smol ;u; I forgot that the new trend for slim minis means that everyone has TINY LITTLE HANDS.

They are, however, beautifully sculpted and a good 3D reference for what needs fixing and how. Bobobie palm is very short relative to fingers: I made a transverse cut behind the knuckles and added epoxy to lengthen More curved volume across the back of the hand: Not necessarily realistic, but looks a little cuter, plus it makes the transition into the cylinder of the wrist look less stylistically jarring. More defined joint angles: Some of these I did via cut-and-thermoform repositioning, mostly I'm aiming to fake it by building up and carving away at the weird smooth curves. The fingers are just TOO SKINNY: But obviously I'm not going to squish rice-grain-sized blobs of epoxy to the fingers, right? It's too fiddly, it doesn't want to stick. What's the solution? Brace for a truly hideous WIP image--

"AAAAAAGH WHAT IS THAT DARK GRAY MESS" it's JB Weld epoxy! It's like load-bearing, slow-curing modeller's putty! Slathering putty onto an armature and then carving it away to refine the shape is how anime figure artists make hands and detailed hair. I was thinking about it from a polymer clay technique/perspective so I missed the obvious solution. Hand in the foreground has more layers than the hand in the background, every layer gets the shape a lil closer. ((progress post 5)) Parts set up on sticks so I can handle them without touching...

... and after 4 light coats!

Closeup of the head, lil' glossy because it's still drying. For the deeper areas like the joint slots, mouth, and the crannies of the ears, I'm going to have to decant some of the paint into a jar and apply it with a sacrificial brush.

((progress post 6)) I return from Depression! I finally finished sanding-and-spraying the Krylon Fusion coats, gave her a last polish with microfine to even out the texture, and have started blushing her. I'm using a mixture of Tamiya X-series acrylics applied via airbrush for basic contouring, then I'll go back in with pastel to add warm tones and details.

Fun discovery: in an attempt to cover some accidental overspray, I tried spraying the Fusion directly into the paint cup of the airbrush and using it to "erase" back to the base color. I'm NEVER using this product straight from the can again, it goes on so smooth and gorgeous from the airbrush! No orange peel or bubbles to sand away. I'm seriously tempted to get a can of pink and try blushing with it.

((progress post 7)) Doing a faceup over a spray-painted substrate is HARD I want to CRY. I talked about sanding out the spray texture to get an untextured surface, right? Welp, didn't/couldn't sand well enough in the corners of the mouth and the folds of the eyelids, so it's crusty-looking with pastels over it and now there's nothing I can do about it that doesn't involve stripping down to resin and starting again.

((final post)) Sueded and strung!

I didn't take pictures of the sueding process because I was using Barge Cement and it is messy and time-sensitive. I used masking tape to make templates of her joints, transferred to some thin gray lamb suede I found on eBay, and glued it fuzzy side out. The suede was thicker than real pliver, more like the thickness of silicone KIPS discs, but I think it worked out without too many fit issues. The trim store had 3.5mm elastic in a beautiful slate-blue color that I thought would look nicer in the joint slots, so she's strung throughout with thicker elastic. Some more poses to show off the functional mods~ Suwariko joints let her sit crosslegged, and more mobile wrists let her put her hands into the pose.

A more ball-and-socked shaped contact surface at her waist lets her slouch at a full range of angles instead of being locked into two.

With longer upper arms, she can reach the ground in this pose! You can also see how the modded waist joint lets her cock her hips.

She could always stand with locked knees. I think she needs some wire in her legs to let the suwariko joints hold their rotation against gravity, but I'll see how the elastic tension settles in first.

A parting shot out the snowy window. We've been having a hard time picking between a few names for her, but I think this settles it. Welcome back, Fubuki~

#making-of-fubuki #doll custom #bjd #bobobie

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dailyexo · 4 years

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[INTERVIEW] Lay - 200819 Rolling Stone India: “How Lay Zhang Claimed The Throne of M-pop”

"The singer-songwriter and producer offers an in-depth look into his latest record ‘Lit,’ his evolution as an artist and finding the balance between East and West

When I last spoke to Lay Zhang in 2018, he was embarking on an ambitious but daunting journey to bring Mandarin pop aka M-pop to the world. “I hope they think, ‘This artist isn’t bad,’” he had said with some trepidation in his voice. “I hope that they find my music special and maybe… they’ll want to learn more about me and Chinese music.” The singer-songwriter and producer aspired to create a true hybrid of traditional and modern music, a sound that defines our generation’s ability to package the past for the future.

Zhang, more commonly known by his stage name LAY, first debuted in 2012 as a member of world-famous K-pop group, EXO. Although he remains a member of the group, he’s spent the last couple of years in China to focus on a solo career and spotlight his own country’s burgeoning pop scene. It’s a process he kicked off with his second studio album Namanana in 2018, but he was still some time away from realizing his dream of pushing Chinese pop to a global stage.

It’s been nearly two years since our conversation for Rolling Stone India’s November 2018 cover feature, and any signs of trepidation are a thing of the past for LAY. We could chalk it up to him being two years older and wiser, but I’d like to think it’s because he kept his promise to bring M-pop to the world. If Namanana was just a dip in the pool of fusion experimentation, his latest studio album Lit is the deep dive.

“It is the evolution of M-pop for me,” LAY explains. “I wanted to take it to another level. When you hear the Chinese instruments, you know it is a different sound and vibe. The style is more pop, R&B, and hip-hop influenced with the Chinese instruments thoughtfully mixed in.” Comprising a total of 12 songs (all written and co-produced by LAY) Lit was released as two EPs instead of one LP; the first dropped in June while the second made its appearance in July. Nearly every track presents a fresh blend of traditional Chinese instruments like the hulusi, guzheng, flutes and gong with modern genres like trap, R&B, soul, hip-hop, future bass, dubstep and more. It’s a complex, refined and intricate record, utilizing production techniques that clearly outline LAY’s growth as an artist over the past two years. In retrospect, Namanana comes across a slightly more naive record–innocent and optimistic with a hope that international audiences would embrace both M-pop and LAY. Lit however seeks to take a different path and carves out the future LAY envisions with cool confidence and fearless production.

The tracks seesaw smoothly from Mandarin to English and back, with LAY showcasing both his vocal and rap skills. It’s an extremely powerful and expansive album, hair-raising at some moments due to the sheer surprises the artist packs in (at one point I hear what sounds like the tabla on “Call My Name” and it catches me totally off-guard.) Some of the collaborators on the record include big names like hip-hop hitmaker Murda Beatz, Grammy Award-winning producer Scott Storch, composer and producer Mitchell Owens and Grammy-nominated songwriter Mike Daley to name a few. For the title track “Lit,” LAY recruited China-native Anti-General who created a vicious and chilling trap/dubstep beat to complement lyrics that decimate LAY’s haters, gossip-mongers and the media, challenging them to come forward and take him down if they dare. The track sees the singer-songwriter rightfully crown himself a ‘king’ and leader in the music industry.

If that wasn’t enough, the music video for “Lit” is without a doubt one of the best released in 2020. With hundreds of extras, dancers, impeccable CGI and a compelling storyline, it’s more movie than music video, portraying LAY as a warrior king who refuses to be defeated. As executive producer, music director and co-choreographer on the project, LAY pays homage to China’s rich history and culture with tons of historical references and traditional symbolism. I tell him I particularly loved the symbolism of a white lotus emerging untouched and pure from the black ink–representing LAY’s rise in the industry–and he shares that the magnificent dragon that appears at the end was his personal favorite. “It was super important that we added it in,” he says. “It represents my wishes, aspirations and my relentless desire to always pursue perfection in the works that I create. I want my dancing, visuals, and music to be the very best it possibly can be.”

Lit is also thematically more complex and layered than any of LAY’s previous works, exploring concepts that revolve around confidence, love, fame, the media, success and more. “The album continues to explore chasing your dream,” the singer explains. “This time it’s about more personal things in my life. Like hometown, family and self-doubt.” A phonetic play on the word for lotus (莲 / lian) in Mandarin, ‘lit’ is a clever pun used to describe LAY’s similarity to a lotus and his prowess as a musician. He named the album after the lotus because of the symbolism of it growing and blossoming from dirt or mud. The lotus also continues the theme of duality with Lit’s two-part release, and, according to LAY’s team, “represents a new birth plus a new sound in the midst of all his past achievements.”

The album’s success more than speaks for itself– when the pre-order for Lit went live on China’s QQ Music streaming platform, nine certification records were instantly broken as it surpassed 1.5 million pre-orders within seven minutes and 19 seconds. This immediately pushed the EP to Number One on QQ Music’s daily and weekly album sales charts. Lit has also made LAY the best-selling artist in China in 2020, with a whopping 2.5 million records sold. It’s a testament to his drive and determination as an artist, the attention to detail and refusal to back down. The record’s international success was no less, hitting top 10 positions on iTunes charts across 32 countries, bagging 21 Number One spots and firmly cementing LAY’s position as the global megastar that he is.

Some things however, never change; brand deals, TV shows, multiple singles, EPs and collaborations keep his schedule completely booked and– just like back in 2018– it’s extremely tough to pin him down for a conversation. He’s currently in the middle of filming a reality show and has several other projects in the pipeline, but still makes the time to catch up and answer a few questions for Rolling Stone India. In this exclusive interview, LAY details his most successful record yet, the journey of finding the balance between East and West, dealing with the dark side of media attention and why the relationship between an artist and their fans needs to be a two-way street.

Congratulations on the release and tremendous success of Lit! It is an absolutely phenomenal record and I was thrilled to see you explore so many new streams of production. Can you tell me a little bit about the process of making this album and do you feel you met your own expectations for it?

For this album I wanted to mix in Chinese traditional instruments and tell Chinese stories. It is the evolution of M-pop for me. I wanted to take it to another level. When you hear the Chinese instruments you know it is a different sound and vibe. It is hard to say if I met my own expectations. As an artist you never ever feel your work is perfect. You can always find spots where you can improve. But I think what I was able to do with my team in the time we had was great.

You dove deeper into the fusion of tradition and modernity on this album than Namanana—there was a larger variety of Chinese instruments used as well as bilingual wordplay with language in the lyrics. In what ways do you feel you’ve evolved as a producer and songwriter since that album to Lit?

I am still trying to find the right style and combination to share my music and Chinese culture with the world. Lit was an example of my growth. I had this desire to include traditional stories and instruments from Chinese culture. Trying to find the balance with the Western music was challenging. I had to think and spend a lot of time arranging the chords around and fitting everything together. Also with this album I am talking about things in a more personal level and taking time to explain with more of an artistic style. I feel like I am growing up on this journey.

Lit is the first part of a series of EPs which will make a whole LP—why did you want to release it in this format and when did you begin working on the record?

I split it into two parts to give time to people to listen to it. I feel like if I released 12 songs at once, people may not give enough time to listen to each track. But when there are just six tracks each time, then it gives people time to listen more carefully. I started this project maybe early 2019.

The title track “Lit” is about your battle with the media, hateful netizens and malicious comments/rumors. Does it get easier over time to deal with this obsessive analysis of your life or does it never really ebb away?

It will always bother you, but over time you learn to deal with it. You focus on it less and less and back on what you love doing. When I make my music or learn dance or do anything I love, I kind of forget about it. Just focus on your goals and dreams and everything else becomes background noise.

The music for “Lit” is, in my opinion, the best of 2020 so far. Can you tell me a little about your role as the executive producer and music director on this project? How did the concept come about?

I was very involved in the project. I oversaw a lot of things that happened and discussed with almost everyone on the team on how to achieve my vision. When I was making the song I was thinking about how do we share Chinese culture. I thought filming in an ancient palace would catch people’s attention. It took off from there when discussing with the director. We started adding more and more elements of Chinese culture. We were trying to tell the story of Xiang Yu, a warlord who rebelled against the mighty Qin Dynasty but wasn’t able to conquer China. I’m Xiang Yu, but I’m trying to change my fate and succeed in my goal.

You incorporated Chinese Peking Opera in the music video version of the track and visual elements of Peking Opera in the album art for “Jade”–What was the motivation behind that decision and is there a particular story that the opera section references?

I wanted to bring people back in time to ancient China. I reference the traditional Chinese story of Xiang Yu and his love, Concubine Yu, so then I added in select passages from the Peking Opera Farewell My Concubine which tells their tragic story.

You displayed your incredible skills in dancing in this music video and you recently talked about how dancing was a way for you to show the audience who you are. Did you feel a sense of relief that the audience can see you or understand you a bit better after the release of “Lit”? Can the audience ever truly understand an artist?

It feels good to know people can see me and understand me more. I don’t think people can ever understand an artist completely. But they can relate to many things. I think that is a challenge for an artist to see how they can use their music to connect with people. It is a worthy challenge.

How do you hope that the artist you are today crafts the Lay Zhang of tomorrow?

I always believe in working hard and improving. I hope that the Lay Zhang of tomorrow continues to keep looking for ways to improve his art. I hope he never gives up his dreams.

Last time we spoke, we talked about Asian traditions represented in global mainstream pop culture. Now as you’ve grown as a megastar, you are one of the leading names in pop filling that space, bringing your heritage to the stage. Why is it important for our generation to see ourselves and our histories represented on these platforms by artists?

It is important for people to remember where they come from. They should know their own history and how their culture came to be. Also, it lets other people know another culture and have a deeper understanding. It can stop miscommunication and it helps people be closer to each other.

Why do fans need to see themselves in an artist? Does it work the same on the other side, do you as an artist see yourself in your fans?

I want fans to be able to relate with an artist. It is important for a fan to see themselves in artist and an artist to see themselves in a fan. When you can see each other you are able to understand each other better. You can connect with each other and really feel things.

I absolutely love the ‘Re-Reaction’ videos you have been doing for years and it means a lot to your fans that you take the time to do it. Why did you want to do this series and what does it mean to you to be able to connect with your fans like this and see them react to your work?

I am curious to know what fans and people think of my work. I want to know where I can improve. I want to keep growing as an artist. But also I want to let my fans know that I am reading their comments and I see everything they say.

Other than releasing more music, what are the rest of your plans for 2020? Do you have any film projects that you’re looking at taking up or are you planning on doing something completely different?

I am busy filming a TV drama and a few reality TV shows for the rest of 2020. A very busy schedule.”

Photo links: 1, 2, 3, 4

Credit: Rolling Stone India.

#EXO #EXO M #Lay #200819 #exo im #exo m im #lay im #p:news #t:news #fs:rolling stone india #comeback:Obsession

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septembercfawkes · 4 years

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Save the Cat! Explained: The Middle

Now that we've addressed the beginning, we're diving into the middle of the Save the Cat! story structure. Also, I want to mention that you can find loads of story examples of this structure here, should you want to look at others. I realize a lot of us might be tired of Spider-verse at this point--but I find it helpful to use the same story to compare and contrast different structures. If we keep using different stories (like what everyone else does), then we miss out on some insights and conclusions we can't draw otherwise. Plus, all this is going to lead to bigger points I'll be posting on my blog far down the road from now. (In any case, this is the last structure I'll be using this story example.)

I realize for some, using the same story may be more confusing, especially if you are new to structure. Please feel free to take what works for you and leave the rest. Structure itself can be confusing to anyone who is learning. Feel free to skip the examples or even my own thoughts and opinions, if that best suits you (heck, or even this whole series). It's all good. And now . . .

The Middle

Break into Two (25)

Now that the beginning is completed, it's time to get to the middle--and in most structures, this is considered Act II, which is where the title of this term comes from. As Snyder puts it, "The act break is the moment where we leave the old world . . . behind and proceed into a world that is the upside down version of that . . . But because these two worlds are so distinct, the act of actually stepping into Act II must be definite." In the Hero's Journey, this is called "Crossing the Threshold." While the Hero's Journey focuses more on how this is the protagonist transitioning to the "special world," Save the Cat! points out that this is a moment where the protagonist chooses to go forward into the "other world" or, as he calls it, the "antithesis world" himself or herself. It must be a choice. If the hero is tricked, dragged, or lured, it will probably fall flat. Snyder also says that something big must happen here to lead to the protagonist making this decision. In my opinion, this is an event that can be big either internally or externally--it's significant. So in Star Wars, the event is Luke's aunt and uncle being killed, which leads him to decide to go on his journey. Big Event --> Protagonist Decides to Move Forward.

In Spider-verse

After Miles finds the spider that bit him, he encounters Spider-man fighting Green Goblin and the collider. Peter asks for Miles's help, explaining that the collider could destroy all of Brooklyn, this and Peter's death are the big events that lead to Miles making the decision to move forward. He may not like the idea, but he won't be passive about it. He'll at least try to fix the goober and save Brooklyn.

B Story (30)

According to Snyder, this is where the B story of the narrative is introduced. In most movies, this will be a love story between the protagonist and the love interest. It's also a story that carries the theme. Snyder sees this as sort of a moment that smooths over the transition from Act I to Act II that we just saw, so it doesn't feel so obvious. The B story here gives the audience a break from the A story, that has had a lot of focus (and has gotten intense).

The B story often has a bunch of new characters. And in this approach, they are upside down versions of characters that were in Act I.

This doesn't have to be a romance plotline, but it's almost always a relationship plotline. It can be about best friends, siblings, parent and child, student and mentor, coworkers--the key is that it can't be wholly antagonistic. Even if the characters seem to be enemies or rivals on the surface, that barrier is broken down to some degree. In Moana, this is when Moana meets and begins trying to work with Maui.

Some say, this may not even need to be a human relationship. It might be about the protagonist and his car.

In Story, Robert McKee talks about how having a relationship plotline (of some sort) works well to balance out all the intensity of the A story (primary plotline)--they complement each other.

My Thoughts and Opinion:

And if you think about it, to me, it makes sense. The primary plotline typically weaves together the greatest external and greatest internal journeys of the hero. A relationship plot fits nicely in the middle of those two--it's more intimate than the external journey, but a degree distant from the internal journey, which gives the events of the story as a whole, more dimension.

In contrast, if you try to add another more external plotline, it might feel off, or if you try to add another inner plotline it might feel off--busy and competitive, since we already have plotlines for those.

A relationship also gives the hero someone to talk to about what's happening; he or she can bounce ideas off someone who is not closely involved, and possibly get another perspective of their problems.

While I appreciate Snyder including this term (as he's the only one who does it this way),

I personally disagree just a bit with the definition. I already mentioned how I think you could create a relationship plotline with (seeming) enemies, but I also don't think the characters in here need to be new characters. From some of the lines in the book, I can't quite tell if Snyder believes this or not. He seems to imply at first that the audience could have met them in Act I, but right after he says, "We did not even know they existed."

But loads of stories introduce B story characters in Act I and maybe even introduce the type of relationship the protagonist has or will have or has had with them. A lot of times, the protagonist runs into the love interest rather early.

So here's how I would explain this. The term B Story doesn't necessarily relate to introducing the B story characters or plotline, but rather is where that plotline begins to take a turn in development. Sure, it can be an introduction to a brand new person. Or, it can be a shift in a relationship already established, so that it starts a path to becoming something different. In this sense, even characters we've met in Act I, can turn out to be (somewhat) "upside down" versions of themselves--the hero will likely see a new side to the other person. The person may actually be totally different than what the hero thought, or maybe is cleverer, kinder, more capable, more understanding, than expected. It's simply (at least) a moment where the hero interacts with the other person in a way that hasn't happened before.

I also disagree somewhat with his thoughts about the theme. Yes, absolutely the B story should relate or touch on the theme in some way--I mean really, ideally, all "through" plotlines should. In particular, a relationship is a great place to have discussions about the theme topic. Maybe it's possible that the B story might address the topic more openly, but hands down the A story/primary plotline should be addressing the theme way more. I mean, it's the primary plot!

The difference is this: The A story shows the theme more and takes the whole story to do it. The B story allows more room for the writer to tell the theme, through the relationship plot line, and if not tell, show it in more obvious ways. Since all plotlines should relate to the theme, really, the B story may be a more simplistic, mirrored, exaggerated, inverted, or contrasting example of the theme. It gives more thematic power, understanding, refining, or complexity to the A story. It also sometimes (not always) reaches a thematic conclusion, earlier (which fuels the A story).

I'm not convinced the B story needs to always be a relationship. Instead, I think the B story is a plotline that (as I said above) fits between the protagonist's external and internal plotlines. Not as big and far-reaching as the protagonist's external journey, but not as intimate and personal as the protagonist's internal journey. For example, the A story could be about the protagonist fighting in a war and how that changes him. The B story could be about two business owners in conflict about how they contribute to the war efforts--not as big as the war story, but not as personal as the character arc. That, in my opinion, is a B story.

And often in many stories, a relationship will fit those requirements just fine. And often, in most stories, there will be an important relationship. But it feels narrow to say the B story is always a relationship.

Also, the B story is a plotline that feeds into the A story in some way, maybe literally or maybe only thematically. But the B feeds into the A, not the other way around--something that can be helpful to writers so they can discern what fits where.

In Spider-verse

Soon after trying to become Spider-man, Miles meets a Peter Parker from another dimension. He's almost quite literally an upside down version of the Peter Parker that died--different hair color, older, out of shape, at a low point in his life. Notice how he offers a more simplistic yet exaggerated version of the theme. He claims he loves to be Spider-man and always gets back up, no matter how many times he gets knocked down, but the footage actually shows the exact opposite of what he is saying. Miles and Peter have a student-mentor relationship plotline, which will allow them to address the theme a little more openly. It also fits between the Miles's external journey and internal journey, adding dimension.

Fun & Games (30 - 55)

This section is the promise of the premise.

It delivers on what the audience "came for." It answers their question, "Why did I choose this story to immerse myself into?"

So in Legally Blonde, this is where we see Elle trying (and failing) to fit into law school. In Elf, this is where we see Buddy trying to navigate New York. In The Emperor's New Groove, this is when we get to see Kuzco stuck as a llama. In an origin superhero movie, this is usually where we get to see the hero using his superpowers. If this is a buddy story, this is usually where we see the buddies clashing with each other in the most entertaining ways.

Snyder says this part of the structure is more concerned with having fun than with moving the story forward.

Think of movie trailers--this is the section where they get a lot of the clips from.

While I think the Hero's Journey would consider these moments "tests" of the Special World, I like the playfulness Snyder's perspective brings to this section, though "playful" might fit some stories better than others. For example, I wouldn't really consider the moments of this section in the Hunger Games, to be "fun," so I'd rather call them "tests."

In Spider-verse

After meeting the alternate Peter Parker, we get a lot of entertainment with the interactions between him and Miles--which contrasts experience with inexperience. They clash. But it's more than that, this is where we start getting to see Miles really learning what it's like to be Spider-man, as he has to encounter villains as Spider-man for the first time.

Midpoint (55)

I've talked about midpoints in other posts. In fact, I once did a whole post about midpoints. Save the Cat! has a different interpretation of what a midpoint is, in comparison to other structures.

What I hear from other structures is that the midpoint is the moment the hero moves from responding and wandering around, to being active and in a "warrior" mode. In order for that to happen, there must be new, significant information that enters the story, which gives the character a greater understanding of what's going on.

But Save the Cat! defines it differently. The midpoint still happens in the middle, but it's either a "false win" or a "false lose." The stakes are also raised (which actually fits into the other definition, because when new information enters the story, it raises the stakes so the character becomes more active).

Snyder zeros in on the idea of the "false win" or "false lose." Around this point, he says, the hero seems to get everything she wanted, but in reality, she hasn't yet learned what she needs to. It seems like a victory, but it's not. It's a "false victory." This is meant to contrast the "All is Lost" beat that comes at the end of the middle, which is described as a "false defeat."

"It's never as good as it seems to be at the midpoint," Snyder says, "and it's never as bad as it seems to be at the 'All is Lost' point."

This can be switched around, he says. So if you have a false defeat at the midpoint, you'll have a false victory at what would be the "All is Lost" point. This means the midpoint will seem like a loss to the protagonist.

My Thoughts and Opinion:

Using this structure, I sometimes feel like the word "false" can be a bit misleading. In some stories, this is exactly what happens. But other times, I'd maybe call it an "incomplete victory" or "incomplete defeat," or maybe even a "seeming victory/defeat." Because the heroes may succeed at something, but still be aware they have more work to do, or vice versa. They may not necessarily be completely misled. And it may actually be a sort of short-term victory/defeat. I mean, I get what Snyder's saying, but I think the word choice can make it confusing to some writers who are learning. But as always, understanding the concept is more important.

And while I think this approach works, I'm not completely sold on this idea yet, mainly because most stories will put an All is Lost beat and a Reward/Victory beat right next to each other regardless of whether the midpoint is a victory or defeat. I almost feel like it just depends on how you slice and dice structure rather than what the midpoint is. Near the end of the middle and the beginning of the end, there is almost always a sort of negative (-) beat (All is Lost), followed by a positive(+) beat (Reward), followed by another negative(-) beat (related to the the bad guys)--so doesn't it just sort of depend on where you draw the line? (I'm sure I've gotten too complicated for half my readers . . . moving on. 😆)

Anyway, maybe I just wish Snyder gave a clearer idea of what the alternate version looks like, beyond simply saying a false defeat midpoint goes to a false victory later and giving only one quick example.

In Spider-verse

Peter B. Parker and Miles (and Gwen) succeed in getting the computer from Alchemax. We also learn that if Peter and Gwen don't return to their proper dimensions, not only will they be glitchy, but they'll die. Doc Ock is given a tighter timeline to get the collider finished. Both of these things raise the stakes. And getting the computer seems like a victory.

Bad Guys Close In (55 - 75)

If the midpoint is a false victory, then all seems fine . . . until the bad guys close in.

"This is the point where the bad guys decide to regroup and send heavy artillery. It's the point where internal dissent, doubt, and jealousy begin to disintegrate the hero's team."

The antagonistic forces tighten their grip on the hero. So basically they are re-engaging with the hero. While Snyder doesn't say this, I think he'd agree that here they have become more cunning and conniving or maybe just more ruthless.

My Thoughts:

One thing I wish is that Snyder would address how this section may be different (or the same) if the midpoint is a false defeat (from his approach/perspective). Does this flip too? So that it's the hero that closes in on the bad guys? Then I wonder how much it matters--cause really, through here, in a lot of stories both sides are preparing and engaging in conflict. So I still think it largely depends on how you slice and dice it.

In comparison to other structures, I would say in the Hero's Journey, this would encompass "Approach the Inmost Cave" and begins to go into "The Ordeal." In the 7 Point Story Structure, this would include Pinch Point 2.

In Spider-verse

Peter, Miles, and Gwen, go to Aunt May's house, where they meet more allies and prepare to defeat Kingpin. Soon after this, Miles discovers that his uncle is actually Prowler. The bad guys close in as he leads them back to Aunt May's, and a fight breaks out.

All is Lost (75)

This is a moment in the story that feels like a total defeat. (It's the "false defeat.") All hope seems lost. All goals seem lost. Everything is doomed. At least that's what it looks like.

Save the Cat! adds a new technique to this moment called "The whiff of death."

It's pretty straightforward. Here either someone dies or at least, the idea of dying is touched on in some way. In a lot of stories, this may be where the mentor dies. But even in stories where there is no death, there should be the presence of death. It might be a dead flower or goldfish or news of a relative dying from somewhere far away.

This taps into the mythic structure of the Hero's Journey--where the old version of the protagonist dies to make room for a new version of the protagonist. Snyder shares this same idea. It's the old world within the character that dies. "All good, primal stories must have this. It resonates for a reason."

In Spider-verse

At the end of the fight, Uncle Aaron dies. The other spider people tell Miles he's not ready to be a superhero.

Dark Night of the Soul (75 - 85)

Now that everything seems lost, we need to take some time to show how the character feels about this. Save the Cat! says this is vital to the story. "It can last five seconds or five minutes." The hero needs to feel the defeat to the extent that she seems unable to continue. It's the darkness before the dawn. In order to learn her life lesson, she must be humble and beaten.

In The Hunger Games, this is Katniss feeling terrible after Rue dies--it seems that nothing pure and innocent can survive this world, and she can't protect the pure and innocent despite her best efforts.

In Spider-verse

Tied up, Miles is at his lowest low. He's alone and even more alienated from his dad. He seems to have failed in every way. . . . and next will be my last post on this structure, the end according to Save the Cat!

#writing tips #writing tips and tricks #save the cat #writeblr #fanfic #writing advice #writing help

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fyexo · 4 years

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200819 How Lay Zhang Claimed The Throne of M-pop

“’Lit’ continues to explore chasing your dream. This time it’s about more personal things in my life. Like hometown, family and self-doubt.” Photo: Courtesy of Zhang Yixing Studio

“I don’t think people can ever understand an artist completely. But they can relate to many things. I think that is a challenge for an artist to see how they can use their music to connect with people. It is a worthy challenge.” Photo: Courtesy of Zhang Yixing Studio

Lit is the first part of a series of EPs which will make a whole LP—why did you want to release it in this format and when did you begin working on the record?

How do you hope that the artist you are today crafts the Lay Zhang of tomorrow?

I always believe in working hard and improving. I hope that the Lay Zhang of tomorrow continues to keep looking for ways to improve his art. I hope he never gives up his dreams.

“I want to keep growing as an artist. But also I want to let my fans know that I am reading their comments and I see everything they say.” Photo: Courtesy of Zhang Yixing Studio

Why do fans need to see themselves in an artist? Does it work the same on the other side, do you as an artist see yourself in your fans?

I am busy filming a TV drama and a few reality TV shows for the rest of 2020. A very busy schedule.

Riddhi Chakraborty @ Rolling Stone India

#exo #lay #t: interview #album: lit

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douchebagbrainwaves · 3 years

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THEN IT'S MECHANICAL; PHEW

Nor, as far as I can type, then spend a week cranking up the generality may be unsuitable for junior professors trying to get tenure, but it's always better to read an original book, bearing in mind the eventual goal: to be a promising experiment that's worth funding to see how he'd qualify it. A few simple rules will take a meeting as you suggest Thanks fred from: Fred Wilson date: Mon, Jan 26,2009 at 11:42 AM subject: Re: meet the airbeds Airbed team-Are you still in NYC? But you ignore them because they need a job. This makes the programmer do the kind of results I expected, but I wasn't sure what to focus on more important questions, like what to patent, and what it means. I don't think it's because they want impressive growth numbers. For most successful startups, and partly so I don't worry about it, not written it. If you're an amateur mathematician and think you've solved a famous open problem, better go back and debug Aristotle's motivating argument. Pick the right startups. The situation is different in phase 1.1 Investors have different risk profiles from founders.2

Any public company that didn't have clear founders. A round if you do it. Even people who hate you for it believe it. What we ought to be better at picking winners than VCs. It would set off alarms. No.3 Html#f8n 19.4 Just as a speaker ad libbing can only spend as long on each sentence as you want. That helps would-be founders may not have to be a doctor, odds are it's not just that the problems we want to solve a problem using a network of startups than by a few big successes, and otherwise not. Starting a startup will change you a lot.5

Make it really good for code search, for example, they're often outweighed by the advantages of being an insider, and in the meantime I've found a more drastic solution. One is simply that they understood search. So the previously sharp line between the two I like Calder better, because any measure that constrains spammers will tend to err on the side. As a little piece of debris, the rational thing for them. The Suit is Back.6 If you don't know who needs to be protected from himself. Of course he would say that hapless meant unlucky. Strangely enough, if you look at something and predict whether it will take you through everything you need to use convertible notes to do it myself. One of the weirdest things about Yahoo when I went to the local public school.7

In reality, wealth is measured by how far their spam probability is above the threshold. You have to at least look at the page. Partly because they can threaten a counter-suit. Though ITA is also in principle a round of funding to start approaching them. This probably indicates room for improvement here. It was not until Perl 5 if then that the language was line-oriented.8 There's an initial phase of negotiation about the big questions.

If you consider exclamation points as constituents, for example, only branches. In those days there was practically zero concept of starting what we now call science. In a few days beforehand, I'll sometimes play it safe. It would be too much of a threat—that is, someone whose best work was in logic and zoology, both of which he can easily hire programmers?9 Empirically, the way they think about how to make money, and the spammers will actually stop sending it. By the 1970s, we've seen the percentage of people who weren't already in it.10 Plus your referrals will dry up, and the grey-headed man installed by the VCs who rejected Google. Why the pattern? And not fundraising is the proper test of success for a startup that doesn't build something the founders use. But really it doesn't matter—that is, to grow about ten percent a year. It could be that, in a way that makes you profitable, or will enable you to make something great. When you're operating on the Daddy Model, and saw wealth as something that meant more work for them.11

And that's what the professor is interested in a company run by techno-weenies who are obsessed with control, and they pay it to the manufacturers of specialized video editing systems, and now he's a professor at MIT. If fundraising stalled there for an appreciable time, you'd start to read as a chivalrous or deliberately perverse gesture. He didn't choose, the industry did.12 Art History 101. There is no shortcut to it. In 1997 I got a call from another startup founder considering hiring them to promote his company. This is an instance of scamming a scammer. So don't underestimate this task. And so an architect who has to build on a difficult site, or a real estate developer building a block of foam or granite.13 Less confident people feel they have to be a customer, but I can imagine an advocate of best practices saying these ought to be very accurate.

What if one of your own. Viaweb succeeded because we were smart. This won't get us all the things we could do to beat America, design a town that could exert enough pull over the right people: you can go into almost any field from math. The sticking point is board seats. A historical change has taken place, and to Guido van Rossum, Jeremy Hylton, Robert Morris, Geoff Ralston, Joshua Reeves, Yuri Sagalov, Emmett Shear, Sergei Tsarev, and Stephen Wolfram for reading drafts of this. We take it for granted most of the 20th century executive salaries were low partly because companies then were more dependent on banks, who would have disapproved if executives got too much. Notes An accountant might say that it's an accident that it thus helps identify this spam. So the total number of new startups. Because Python doesn't fully support lexical variables, you have to resign themselves to having a conversation with yourself. Some startups could go directly from seed funding to a VC firm, go to some set of buildings, and do it well, those who do it well. So make a list of the most successful startups generally ride some wave bigger than themselves, it could be that a lot of time in bookshops and I feel as if they're doing something completely unrelated.14 That shows how much a startup differs from a job.15

Notes

Though most founders start out excited about the topic.

The reason we quote statistics about the Airbnbs during YC. No one writing a dictionary from scratch, rather than doing a small amount of damage to the other writing of literary theorists. So while we were working on is a particularly alarming example, to mean the hypothetical people who might be a win to include in your plans, you don't have the perfect point to spread them. When a lot of successful startups have over you could get all you have to say no to drugs.

Exercise for the ad sales department.

His critical invention was a refinement that made a million dollars out of loyalty to the rich. 1886/87. Vision research may be overpaid.

Above. Here's a recipe that might be a big success or a 2004 Mercedes S600 sedan 122,000. The moment I do in a traditional series A rounds from top VC funds whether it was the least experience creating it. The founders want the valuation is fixed at the time.

Photo by Alex Lewin. Some want to keep the number of users to observe—e.

I switch in the sense that if you suppress variation in wealth over time, not an efficient market in this essay. If they're on the group's accumulated knowledge. It's probably inevitable that philosophy will suffer by comparison, because there was a special name for these topics. SFP applicants: please don't assume that the site.

Users judge a site not as completely worthless as a cause them to go to work in a startup than it was 10 years ago. Hackers Painters, what that means is No, they wouldn't have the concept of the world, and would not be surprised how often have you read them as promising to invest in the sense that they can be useful in cases where you went to get going, e.

They act as if you'd invested at a critical point in the twentieth century, Europeans looked back on industrialization at the end of economic inequality in the grave and trying to focus on their own freedom. Pliny Hist. I even mention the possibility.

Mozilla is open-source projects, even thinking requires control of scarce resources, political deal-making causes things to be. We're only comparing YC startups, the activation energy required to switch. Analects VII: 36, Fung trans. Cit.

Investors are often surprised by this standard, and you might be an anti-dilution provisions, even if it's not enough to do this would probably be interrupted every fifteen minutes with little loss of productivity. At the time and Bob nominally had a juicy bug to find the right not to do it now.

This seems to have figured out how to succeed at all. Actually it's hard to say hello on her way out. That's why there's a special title for actual partners. The two 10 minuteses have 3 weeks between them.

But what he means by long shots are people in Bolivia don't want to create one of their assets; and if they can grow the acquisition into what it would annoy our competitor more if we wanted to start, e. The second biggest regret was caring so much worse than he was 10.

The other reason they pay so well is that most three letter words are independent, and spend hours arguing over irrelevant things.

That name got assigned to it because the rich. If an investor is more efficient. Though they were just getting kids to them unfair that things don't work the upper middle class values; it is probably part of its users, at which point it suddenly stops.

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misc-headcanons · 4 years

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Shuhei Hisagi/F!OC (Meiri): Not-so-lonely

Commissioned by @partyinnevarra on Tumblr, who owns the lovely Meiri!

Word Count: 3141

Shuhei was already protective of his home and the Sereitei as a whole, but after the Quincy invasion and the conclusion of the Thousand-Year Blood War, he'd escalated from "protective" to hypervigilant. Most of his spare time was dedicated to patrolling the Sereitei and throwing himself more into his duties as a Squad Lieutenant, with his hobbies and work on the newspaper being pushed aside. Most of the time, his patrols were (to his slight relief) uneventful; today, however, was very different.

As he passed by the mansion towards the outskirts of his home district, he heard the sounds of a sword clashing with something and felt traces of someone's spiritual pressure fluctuating a bit...someone--or something--he had never encountered before. He placed one hand close to his zanpakuto and quietly flash-stepped to the outskirts of the large, lavish property near a large stone fence. The source of this new spiritual pressure was definitely inside the mansion, just on the other side of this stone wall…

Shuhei stealthily climbed up the stone wall until he was high enough to look over the other side, but still keep most of his body hidden. To his surprise, he didn't see a Hollow, or even a Shinigami--at least, not one that he recognized. A young woman with long pink hair put up into a bun was catching her breath and staring intensely at a training dummy on the other side of the yard. While she had a zanpakuto in her hand, she wasn't wearing the traditional uniform of a Shinigami; instead, she was dressed in a dark teal hanfu top with an intricate white floral design embroidered along the shoulders, and a pair of short white pants that ended a few inches above her knees. The long skirt that would typically be worn over these shorts was carefully folded on top of a carved stone bench nearby, next to a small koi pond.

Shuhei watched as she held up her zanpakuto--a long naginata similar to the blade belonging to Third Seat Madarame of Squad 11--and moved into a stance that he recognized immediately from his days practicing drills at the Shinigami Academy. She gracefully spun around with her zanpakuto in the air over her head, using the momentum of her polearm to then thrust forward and strike the middle of the training dummy; when she noticed that the point of impact was slightly to the right of her intended target, she frowned and gripped her naginata a bit tighter. "I'm still leaning a bit," she muttered to herself, pursing her lips in annoyance. She carried her zanpakuto with one hand as she walked over to the stone bench and sat next to her folded skirt with a small frustrated sigh. "Maybe I should take a break…"

Her gaze wandered towards the training dummy across the yard, and then to a small bird that had flown near it before perching on top of the garden wall close to where Shuhei was spying on her. When she saw that a stranger was looking in on her, and in a state of "partial undress", she jumped up immediately in alarm with a small squeak of surprise; her cheeks were a bit pink at realizing a peeping tom was peering at her, and for making such an undignified sound as a result. She reached for her long skirt and quickly wrapped it around herself with one hand while brandishing her zanpakuto with the other. "This mansion is private property," she said sternly. "And it's incredibly rude to spy on someone, especially if they're in a state of undress."

Shuhei glanced at the young lady's long skirt, and soon she wasn't the only one with a warm face. "I-I wasn't spying on you because of that," he insisted. "I was checking on this place and thought there was an intruder!" He flash-stepped onto the top of the wall. "I'm co-lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi, of the 10th Division," he said, trying to sound more serious and less flustered. "The owner of this mansion hasn't been seen in years, and I detected an unfamiliar source of spiritual pressure on the grounds. So, I decided to investigate."

The young woman narrowed her eyes and reluctantly put away her weapon. "You're a member of the Gotei 13," she remarked quietly, her tone less harsh than before. "I see…" To Shuhei's surprise, she immediately bowed gracefully. "I apologize for my rude and hostile behavior," she said. "Please, allow me to rectify this. As the current keeper of my father's estate and title, to disrespect someone of your status is a mark on his name as well as mine." She lifted her head up and smiled warmly. "Allow me to properly introduce myself; I am Lady Meiri. Please, come inside. I can serve you some tea and refreshments, if you'd like!"

Shuhei looked down at her silently. She wasn't a Hollow or a Quincy, and when she wasn't aiming her sword at him she seemed downright pleasant. Still, he felt a bit of lingering suspicion; was she really that old man's daughter? They didn't really look that much alike; he knew for certain that that old noble definitely didn't have pink hair or green eyes like hers. She certainly seemed like a typical member of one of the noble families in the Soul Society, though: very refined, soft-spoken, graceful and pretty in that elegant sort of way that reminded him of the people depicted in ukiyo-e artwork…He bashfully looked away from her for a moment and glanced at the ground; even if she couldn't hear his thoughts describing her as "pretty", he still felt a bit embarrassed about it.

He jumped from the top of the garden wall and landed on the soft grass, and gave her a small awkward nod before following her inside. Even if he was still a bit suspicious of her, he could probably learn more about her this way compared to a typical interrogation. As he removed his shoes and stepped inside, his stomach growled loudly and he held a hand over his midsection while the young lady pretended notice (albeit with a small smile on her face as he walked behind her). Another plus to all of this: he wouldn't have to walk all the way back to his place to get some lunch…

For a Shinigami planning on subtly "interrogating" someone, Shuhei was acting more like a flustered teenager getting invited into a girl's room for the first time than anything else. As he sat at a small table in the dining room and looked around, Meiri put a golden kettle on the hearth in the middle of the room. After she prepared a lunch-and-tea set for two people and arranged the delicate china cups and other dishes to her liking, she set it aside near the hearth and then sat across from Shuhei with her arms folded on her lap. "I haven't enjoyed the company of visitors recently," she said with a small sheepish smile. "So my skills as a hostess may be...a bit rusty, so to speak."

"It's fine," Shuhei mumbled. He wasn't used to being a noble's guest, so they were pretty even. He reached for his food and tried his best to not inhale it all at once in front of her; he was hungry, but she was a noblewoman and his hostess. "So...how long have you been living here?"

"Well, I was raised here by my father," Meiri replied. "But recently he left me in charge of the estate to apply for a position with the Royal Guard." Her eyes became slightly downcast. "After the Quincy's invasion, there were some...vacancies for several positions. He's a renowned healer and master of Kido, and he told me that he wished to put his immense talent and expertise to use within the Palace." She laughed gently and smiled sadly. "He also added that if he was already in exile from the Sereitei, why not enjoy a different change of scenery?"

Shuhei raised an eyebrow. He'd always known the old man who owned the mansion was a noble and a bit of a recluse, but not that he was exiled. Did it have something to do with Aizen and his experiments, like with Urahara's allies and the Visoreds' expulsion from the Sereitei? He could tell by the look on Meiri's face that it was a sore subject for her. Was she exiled as well, and that was why he'd never seen her until today? "So," Shuhei asked, trying to avoid directly asking Meiri about whether or not she was exiled like her father, "Have you ever been to the Sereitei, or do you prefer to stay here with your father at home?" He noticed her naginata lying against the wall where she had carefully placed it after first entering the room; he felt like if a woman like her was carrying around such a large weapon, he would've had to have noticed her at some point if she ever went out.

Meiri smoothed down her robes absentmindedly as she talked. "I leave and go out in public on occasion," she replied delicately. "But I've spent most of my life here, with my father. I've always felt that even if he can't engage with the world, he can at least have me alongside him so he doesn't become too lonely." She smiled again, and her voice was incredibly warm as she spoke about her father. "It's the least I can do for him, after everything he's done for me."

When she heard the whistle of the tea kettle, she rose from the table and walked to the hearth as she continued to talk. "I've always had tutors that lived at the house while they taught me, and Father trained me in the ways of Kido and healing magic. This place is my home, and my school, in a way."

"Does that mean you never went to the Shinigami Academy?" Shuhei looked down at her naginata again. "How did you learn to use a zanpakuto?"

Meiri carried the tray with cups and tea leaves in one hand, and the hot kettle of water with the other. Once she had set it onto the table, she reached down and ran her delicate fingers over the pole of her blade. "I learned here," she replied plainly. "With my father's Kido training and private lessons with a few swordsmen and kendo masters my father is acquainted with, I had no real need to go to the Academy to learn to become a Shinigami. The only time I went there was when I was required to demonstrate my skills to qualify for 'graduation' status without having been an enrolled student." She smiled sweetly at Shuhei. "It's a shame, though; if I had learned there, I might have been able to meet you earlier. We could have been classmates, or perhaps even friends!"

Shuhei rubbed the back of his neck bashfully as Meiri prepared their tea. "Maybe, yeah," he replied. "But I was kind of a loner back then. I dunno if I'd have been able to talk to you." With how anxious he was around girls at that age, he would've never been able to be around someone like her without becoming a sweaty, blushing mess.

Meiri cocked her head slightly as she poured his cup first. "Oh? Because of my status, you mean?" She set the kettle down and then poured her own cup, smiling wryly. "I assure you, I'm not as high-and-mighty and straight-laced as you may think."

"Not that," Shuhei replied offhandedly. "But, most guys at that age would have a hard time talking to a girl that's…" He trailed off, and his eyes widened as he realized he had no idea how to finish that sentence without embarrassing himself. Meiri patiently waited for him to finish, a bit puzzled but eager to understand just what he was talking about. His face turned slightly red as he tried his hardest to not avoid her gaze. "That's...ah...elegant, you know? Graceful, pretty, stuff like that. It's kind of intimidating, to have someone's attention when they're so..."

Meiri's cheeks started to match the color of her rose-colored hair. She was used to being complimented for her beauty by her father's friends and acquaintances, but this felt different; instead of the demure smile and polite "thank you" she'd have given one of them, she wasn't quite sure how to respond. A small smile had turned up the corners of her lips without realizing it as she moved her hand to give Shuhei his cup of tea. When he moved to accept it, the tips of their index fingers brushed against each other, and the two of them both looked away shyly.

Shuhei immediately put the cup to his lips and winced as he drank, too eager to hide part of his face out of embarrassment to care that the tea was scalding hot. Meiri's fingers traced the flowery design on her cup and she caught a glimpse of Shuhei's face while he was drinking. He was certainly handsome, with tousled black hair, chiseled jawline, and dark gray eyes. The scars on his face certainly didn't harm his appearance, and combined with his tattoos, Meiri thought it gave him a "rugged" sort of look that she wasn't used to appreciating up-close. "Do you think...Ahem," she said, clearing her throat a bit to try and cover her nervousness. "Do you think that same sentiment applies to young women?" She took a sip of her tea. "Are they intimidated by handsome young men at that age?"

Shuhei set down his mug and noticed the shy expression on her face as she looked just below his eyes. "I...um, I guess," he replied awkwardly, not sure what she was really asking but still noticing she was trying to say something from the tone of her voice. "I think everyone's nervous around people they're interested in like that, at least a little."

Meiri smiled behind her mug as she finished her sip of tea. Her heart was racing a bit as she decided to say what was on her mind, regardless of whatever happened next. "I see," she replied, her green eyes shining. "That would explain how nervous I feel right now, I suppose--having tea and speaking with a handsome man like you."

Shuhei choked and sputtered on his tea, and Meiri covered her mouth in surprise, she didn't think he'd be that taken aback! He quickly set his mug down and reached for one of the napkins on the tea tray, but Meiri had already grabbed it before hurrying to the other side of the table to dab at the droplets of tea on his face and chest. She knelt at his side and quickly wiped the tea from his mouth as he managed to breathe normally again. "Hisagi-san, I'm so sorry," she said, apologizing profusely as she cleaned up. "That was so bold and out of line for me to say, especially after just meeting you!" Her feelings of embarrassment radiated like the heat coming from her face; for someone from a noble family to flirt so shamelessly with someone that wasn't even courting them...oh, she had made a fool of herself and offended him for sure!

Shuhei heard Meiri's voice wobble a bit as she apologized to him, and he immediately shook his head as he wiped his chin. Was she about to cry because she thought he had rejected her by spitting up his tea? "No, no, it's okay," he insisted, coughing a bit. "I was just surprised, hearing you say that. Really, I'm..." He reached for the napkin in her hand and once again, their fingers brushed against each other. "I'm flattered. I was actually worried that I'd upset you when I'd called you pretty before, so when you replied with that, I just wasn't expecting it."

Meiri's eyes widened a bit as she felt the warmth of his fingers, and she let go of the napkin while he wiped up the spilled tea on the table in front of him. She started to realize just how close the two of them were, and her heart began to race again. "I...see," she replied haltingly, unsure of what to say. "Well, I assure you that I wasn't offended at all either. In fact, I was also very...flattered." She smiled at him and turned slightly to hand him his half-empty mug of tea, and he took it from her with a small smile of his own.

She (a bit reluctantly) got up to go back to her seat on the other side of the table, and soon the two of them began to talk more and more freely as time went on. Soon, the embers of the hearth began to dim, and Meiri noticed the sun beginning to set through a window in the kitchen. "Oh dear, it's almost evening," she remarked. She bowed her head. "I've kept you for so long without even realizing it!"

Shuhei set down his empty mug on the tray. "Don't worry about it," he replied with a small smirk. "With how much I've had to cover for my co-lieutenant, I'm sure she can handle one night of some extra paperwork on my behalf." He helped her carry the tea tray to the sink in the kitchen and followed her to the door leading to the backyard. As he put his shoes back on, he noticed Meiri nervously playing with the sash on her robes. "Are you alright?"

"Hm? Oh, yes," she replied, dropping the end of her sash. "I was just wondering if…" She cleared her throat. "If you'd like to come over for tea again, whenever you're available. I could give you a tour of the mansion, or play a song or two on the guzheng in the music room!" She smiled shyly. "I'd have to practice a bit just to make sure I play well enough for you, though."

"That sounds nice," Shuhei replied, smiling back at her. "I don't know anything about guzheng music, but I know how to play the guitar. Maybe I could bring it over here one day after work and we could try playing together."

Meiri nodded. "I would like that," she replied softly. "Feel free to send me a Hell Butterfly whenever you'd like to visit."

The two of them exchanged a small polite bow, and as Shuhei made his way out of the garden to the stone path leading back to his own house, he looked at the setting sun with a smile still on his face. He had a feeling that his days of loneliness were going to be a thing of the past.

#bleach #bleach scenario #bleach scenarios #shuhei hisagi #shuhei #shuhei hisagi/oc #oc #bleach oc #commission #commissions #mine

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helltore-a · 5 years

Photo

welcome to the first episode of THE BLOGCHELOR starring me !

this has been in production for MONTHS and i am here to deliver for mutuals and non - mutuals alike , this is FREE TO JOIN FOR ALL . i will be doing this fortnightly or monthly ( depending on my schedule ) with at least 5 BLOGS reviewed for however way they will take my perspective to improve and grow for the better. feel free to take it or leave it.

THE RATING WORKS ON THE RANGE OF 5 / 5: with 1 as has so much room for potential and improvement , 3 as passable and your blog works as functionally and practically as it should , and 5 as with flying colors that your blog works but with good extras. READ FULL CRITERIA DESCRIPTION HERE.

01. @msscre . fandomless oc by pax.

ACCESSIBILITY / NAVIGABILITY. ★★★★★ With this kind of theme having maximum number of 4 links , I like how the first thing your blog immediately showed me is the links because the boxes and font color just pops out. You did what you can with limited url slots and the navigation page for everything makes it easier for everyone to browse through since they’re all redirected pages. ➤ GENERAL ADVICE FOR EVERYONE : In my opinion , it’s better to have a good balance and choice of usage between redirected pages and custom pages. Too much use of custom pages for the aesthetic can be annoying for a potential partner browsing your blog because most people just want to read your content and not to be kept redirected to different pages , especially if they’re incoherent with no uniform choice of design. Worst combo to send your potential partners away since they can also feel lazy not to read your content. Yes , people do that and it’s not their fault since the human brain has limited attention span. Too much redirected pages works if you want simple , straightforward navigation but it wouldn’t hurt to add a little flair sometimes. This flair can be from the custom page and redirected page mix usage or from how your content is formatted too.

VISUAL IMPACT / AESTHETICS. ★★★★ Absolutely love the consistency in your theme color palette ! Neutrals and red as highlights is a good duo. Everyone is entitled to their own tastes of their representation and interpretation of their muses , though might I suggest that the color of your highlights be a little lighter ? The theme and fonts are neutrals and dark , so it will help the eyes adjust and find the emphasised content you’re aiming to be read if your highlights are light or medium light so not to deviate with the theme’s aesthetic. However , I don’t feel your font for the header though ... seems a bit off for me but it’s just a difference between preferences , no biggie. ➤ GENERAL ADVICE FOR EVERYONE : It’s always good to have a good choice of what font goes with what. In my case I use a lot of font sizes and properties to complement the theme with the format or the actual font used. Usually I do cursive and straight combination , not one over other overpowering each other. Google Fonts with html codes and stuff is your best friend.

SUBSTANCE / INFORMATIVE. ★★★★ Good info on the biography and verses since they have whatever pumps the blog alive. I don’t know if it’s in your intentions but a PERSONALITY section is good too in supporting your psychological evaluation stats page since mostly , numbers don’t really make sense to humans. They’re more of the qualitative type , makes it easier for them to understand if you link those numbers to words of brief description of your muse’s behavior and attitude. This is especially crucial for OCs to have as one of my preferences so I’ll know if our muses can clash for fun or just clash without sense ... you can gauge what an interaction can be just by reading the other’s personality section and see how it helps with the plotting and relationship dynamic.

READABILITY / LEGIBILITY. ★★★★ The colour of the highlights is what I’ve said earlier but overall , the font colors are good since I can read them.

BRANDING / WOW FACTOR. ★★★★★ The mysteriousness with the PERSONALITY section gone can be a pro and con sometimes and since I read your about page , there’s suspense in how you came up with her name because it’s really thought - evoking. I associate your muse with a greek figure and it gives me something to think about especially as it can help me pinpoint a plot for us , if ever. I also appreciate the stats page like they’re very unique with some stats I’ve never seen before so it makes up for the substance as well. There’s visual - spatial intelligence , etc. which makes your muse unique due to that analysis. Little details matter.

02. @jollynephilim . supernatural’s jack kline by dipper.

ACCESSIBILITY / NAVIGABILITY. ★★★★ Might enhance a bit with positioning since some of the links are scattered on top of the side header WHO IS IN CONTROL which makes it hard for me to ignore in a visual - wise focus. You can also experiment by using other symbols or images since the links are eye - catching due to animation.

VISUAL IMPACT / AESTHETICS. ★★★ I’ve been very familiar with this kind of theme since I am guilty of being tempted to use the same , although this one has become mainstream so I am very used to seeing the same formula over and over again. Something new might be good or an innovation of the original theme though it doesn’t mean you should sell your soul to photoshop or html masters. The background edit is well - appreciated since it blends with the dark color palette you chose. You can make your theme a little bit refined with the bars by changing their gray rose ( ?? ) background to something continuous since the way I view it on my browser , I can see where the background picture of the bars started and ended. ➤ GENERAL ADVICE FOR EVERYONE : Being continuous and blending are two elements useful in visually enhancing one’s blog. It shows unity and consistency. Be careful in integrating too much of the links or headers in the background because it can get to the point that it’s annoying to find or read through bleeding colours of the theme and other factors.

SUBSTANCE / INFORMATIVE. ★★★ Love the profile , brief and concise. Can do something more with adding a few rare info that will make your Jack stand out from others ... Nevertheless , I like how informed I am with the BACKGROUND since for someone who hadn’t caught up with Supernatural , it works.

READABILITY / LEGIBILITY. ★★★★★ Readable. However the highlight color concerns me since it doesn’t complement the background color palette because the blue sticks out , but other than that , it works.

BRANDING / WOW FACTOR. ★★★ Add a bit more on the info and finding a selling point on a BRAND that will classify your Jack as their own. Like putting out something new that will make your muse distinguishable from other duplicates. Additionally , I’ve seen your threads or opens and they are very intriguing since they give rise to questionable exploration of sensitive topics , which is good since it’s a different approach to Jack’s character.

03. @kidhnter . supernatural’s claire novak by heather.

ACCESSIBILITY / NAVIGABILITY. ★★★★ Everything is accessible except the ask box. Hopefully you can fix the codes for that.

VISUAL IMPACT / AESTHETICS. ★★★★ I’ve been guilty in trying the same formula in themes , but you get a star instead of three for bonus in using a complementary color palette. However it gives me the signal that it’s playing too safe so you might like to consider using dark or light shades of one font color if one color is your drift. The black starry header sticks out for me , and you can edit it to even or level out the gradient since it seems cut off in the middle in my view. Being continuous and consist are qualities in keeping an aesthetic alive.

SUBSTANCE / INFORMATIVE. ★★★ Fun facts or trivias are really appreciated since I use the same formula depending on which muse I have , so I really like that cute bit. But I can’t give an overall review since your page is still incomplete which is totally understandable. ➤ GENERAL ADVICE FOR EVERYONE : One of my biggest pet peeves that turn me off is when people have blogs but don’t have much in their pages. I understand that they haven’t found the time to complete them because real life comes first , but at least give me a little information especially if I don’t know your muse and I’m not too interested to look them up in my search bar , sorry. I’d rather read someone’s writing that’s not copy pasted from wikia than actually reading on wikia because it gives me an insight on how this person writes. Do they focus on content and details ? Do they write in purple prose or straightforward ? Things like that are analysed whenever I read someone’s about pages. Usually before I release a blog out in the wild , I complete my pages as soon as possible with deliberate planning because I don’t want to advertise an EMPTY blog.

READABILITY / LEGIBILITY. ★★★★★ Very readable since everything is organised and categorised through the theme’s menu and aesthetic appeal plus function.

BRANDING / WOW FACTOR. ★★★★★ Gold and black makes a statement , take advantage of that color scheme and remember the starry background of your bars. I love the BIKER BARBIE bit because it has its charismatic appeal and different format on how usually people do that. BIKER BARBIE brand is iconic for claire and I can see where you’re coming from , but from an analytic perspective , it’s also a clash of character for claire but harmoniously it works out. Good job , makes it easy for me and very distinguishable to remember your brand that makes me think that Ah , this is the BIKER BARBIE claire.

04. @crackedfaith . supernatural’s castiel by vix.

ACCESSIBILITY / NAVIGABILITY. ★★★★★ Very thought out due to the number of links and the flow of the story of your blog through the order of the links. ➤ GENERAL ADVICE FOR EVERYONE : Content is not the only thing you should plan writing for. The moment you have the blog is the same moment you’ve already started writing your interpretation which is seen in the way you presented your blog through graphic edits , links , pages , etc. Content is not the only thing that tells your character’s story , your blog does too and that’s why it’s important to pay attention to details.

VISUAL IMPACT / AESTHETICS. ★★★★ This theme sure as hell takes your time coding so I really appreciate and love how you made it your own. I feel , because I used the same theme in different occasion and it’s a pain to code but totally worth it. I love the colours very much ... They give an outer - worldly vibe but at the same time , very much Castiel. ➤ GENERAL ADVICE FOR EVERYONE : Visual impact and aesthetics may affect your branding and people’s impression of you and your muse , but it does not define you. Always remember that. It does give identity though so like I said , pay attention to even the tiniest details because you never know who reads your blog. Visual impact and aesthetics also affect readability levels , take note of that one since overly coded and overly aesthetic blogs can repel writers who can’t read shit due to lots of glitters on the blog and all other many stuff going on that they can’t understand.

SUBSTANCE / INFORMATIVE. ★★★ Since you haven’t completed your about and verses pages , I cannot say it works but I appreciate that the guidelines are already set. Very , very critical piece to put in the blog because it is what dictates if you will write or will you not write with others.

READABILITY / LEGIBILITY. ★★★ Don’t know if you can change the font but as much as if you can , do it. The main chubby font works on the container but it doesn’t work on the sidebar. I had to squint my eyes to make out the words because of the heavily color gray. Try using lighter shades for font color and other styles as well. Google Fonts is your best friend.

BRANDING / WOW FACTOR. ★★★★★ Very iconic. GRACE/LESS tagline is such a catch for me , it’s really great. The background also has an impact on me because it reminds me of the cosmos , of the time of The Fall scene , and I love how you incorporated the sense of falling in your graphics.

05. @sanguinebite . van helsing’s verona by demi.

ACCESSIBILITY / NAVIGABILITY. ★★★★★ On the side and easily seen. Clean cut , just pops out next to sidebar.

VISUAL IMPACT / AESTHETICS. ★★★★ Can do a bit more with the font used on the sidebar and its format. I love Times New Roman and its use in this theme. Maybe try experimenting with shades of black and gray and consider giving other colors a chance for highlights so people can see what you’re emphasising through bold , italic properties. Other than that , overall theme is a choice that works. The cursor is cute and the edit on the sidebar photo looks cool , so extra points for those two.

SUBSTANCE / INFORMATIVE. ★★ Kind of empty , but the rules are established so that’s appreciated. It helps that I know your muse but what if other people don’t know ? I suggest doing a temporary info scribbles on the pages or just a simple TBA / WIP.

READABILITY / LEGIBILITY. ★★★★ Readable , I don’t have to squint so much so that’s a good thing. It depends on the device used about the font size , but try making the font size a bit bigger for the body since it’s too small for me.

BRANDING / WOW FACTOR. ★★★ Older than Rome itself holds great potential to immortality vibes of branding material , it’s a good tagline I like. Maybe you can link your muse to a roman figure and create a brand from there. Qualities also help you think about a good brand as well as your muse’s history. Who or what reminds you of your muse ? What can you take from there and make it your own ?

#THE BLOGCHELOR / * event.#there we go oof

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rt-reader-inserts · 6 years

Text

Valentine

Pairing: Trevor Collins x Reader

Word Count: 2,391

Description: You find yourself alone on Valentine’s Day, working after hours on editing with nothing better to do. That is, until a certain someone walks in. (This was a commission for @trevc0, thank you so much!!)

Warnings: None!

It is… somewhat disheartening to see all your coworkers leaving the office, either with their loved one, with gifts from/for a loved one, or with plans to see their loved one when they get home. Meanwhile, you’re just staying after to catch up on some editing, seeing as you had the time for it. No partner means no plans so, it’s not like you have anything better to do. Work’s better than staying in, watching netflix, and thinking about how nice it’d be to be with someone tonight.

That doesn’t stop those thoughts from lingering in your subconscious.

With a deep breath, you try to keep you entire focus on your work. Balancing the audio levels of six microphones, finding the best footage to switch to at different points in the video, it’s at least an easy thing to get fully absorbed in.

So it startles you when you feel a tap on your shoulder, and you look up to see Trevor standing behind your chair, shooting you a smile as you take your headphones off. “Hey, (y/n), is there, uh, a reason you’re still here? Office hours ended like, ehh two hours ago.” You check your phone to see that it is, in fact, seven o’clock, and it surprises you how fast the time went by. (It’s not surprising, however, when you see your only notifications are from Twitter and Tumblr.)

“I just stopped by to grab my jacket, wound up leaving it since the weather was so nice, and then I saw the light was on and… there you were, editin’ away.”

You laugh under your breath, shaking your head slightly before replying, “I dunno, figured I could get some work done since I have no plans; plus, you dorks aren’t here to interrupt with your ‘shenanigans’ so…” You shoot him a grin, and he rolls his eyes.

“Wow, you walk in on flinchless kickie doo one time—”

“It hit me right in the face, Trevor; and I had a fuckin bounce house dropped on me one time?”

“ —alright well, yeah, but it’s not like that really interrupted anything. Just… delayed things a bit.” He fires back, crossing his arms with a slightly guilty expression.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night,” you tease, sitting back in your chair as you look up at him. “Is there a specific reason for tonight’s interruption? Outside of curiosity, of course.”

“Well, uh, since you don’t have plans or anything,” he rubs the back of his neck, gaze darting over to a random spot in the room before looking back at you, “would you, like, wanna go get dinner?”

As if to answer his question, your stomach rumbles, and you both laugh. “Yeah man, I’m absolutely down for dinner.” It doesn’t occur to you until after you’ve already answered the question, but you realize you have no idea what the connotations surrounding dinner are.

Well, too late now.

He shoots you another smile, moving to grab his jacket from the couch. “Better save your work then, cuz I’m a hungry boy,” you can’t help but snort at that. You’re a dork, that’s what you are. “And, judging by the whale noises, I’m guessing you’re in the same boat.”

“You know I’m the hungriest boy around,” you shoot back, spinning around in your chair and quickly saving what you have. “Honestly, I would devour the entire McDonald’s menu right now, and I don’t even like McDonald’s.”

“Dammit, there goes my plan for good ol’ MickeyD’s.”

With a slight eye roll, you sit and wait for your computer to shut down, placing your headphones on your desk.

You can’t help but let out a surprised gasp, almost squeal, when your chair suddenly begins moving backwards. “Let’s get movin’, kid,” Trevor says as he starts rolling you toward the door, unable to keep from chuckling at his own dumb antics.

With slight difficulty, you jump out of the moving chair, quickly stepping to the side and laughing as he stumbles through his momentum. “Hang on, dude, I can’t leave my bag behind,” you tell him as you walk back to your desk, “and I can walk on my own, thanks.”

“Well, if you insist,” he retorts, sliding your chair back to your desk as you pick up your bag. Tossing your phone inside, you turn back to him, and he smiles. “Ready to roll?”

“If by roll you mean walk, and not take my chair out in the parking lot, then yeah, let’s roll.”

“I mean, there aren’t any cameras around, so I think we can leave the safety violations at the office tonight,” he replies, walking backward toward the door as he waits for you to follow.

With a combination of a laugh and an exasperated sigh, you walk after him, hitting the switch on your way out.

The two of you wind up at a hole-in-the-wall Italian place, one that your coworkers have been raving about (and that was thankfully small enough to not be completely booked on Valentine’s Day). You’d felt somewhat embarrassed when you’d had to admit to Trevor that Steffie was normally your ride home, and you’d been planning on taking a Lyft home tonight. Of course he assured you that driving you home was no problem, and that it made things easier anyways, not having to figure out what to do with two cars.

He had a point, but that doesn’t stop you from being anxious about inconveniencing him.

However, the weird conversation you find yourself in does more than enough to distract you from that anxiety.

“Wait, wait, so hang on,” Trevor speaks through suppressed laughter, “you’re telling me— that you were afraid of swimming pools until you were nine??”

“Listen, it was a valid fear!” you defend yourself, crossing your arms in a slightly exaggerated manner. “I mean, at least at the time. Of course I knew that sharks probably didn’t swim in public swimming pools, but was I one hundred percent sure? Nope, and I wasn’t about to take that chance.”

“Had to wait until you were at least ten for that.”

“Now you’re getting it,” you shoot back with a grin, which he cheekily returns.

You’d been at the restaurant for only twenty minutes, when suddenly the waiter sets down the appetizer in front of you; it looks nothing short of amazing. Of course, neither of you are surprised, suggestions from the podcast crew rarely let anyone down. In all honesty, it’s really just the price makes the quality astonishing.

“Jesus christ, I could eat that entire plate in two seconds flat,” Trevor absentmindedly mumbles, and you’re drawn back to the present, quickly grabbing a ravioli as you narrow your eyes at him.

“You better fuckin’ not.”

He holds his hands up in mock surrender, fork still between his fingers. “Hey, I said I could, not that I will. You think I’m gonna pull something like that when you have a fork and knife at hand?”

“I mean, we have the same silverware, you could technically defend yourself, if it came to that.”

He rolls his eyes, leaning back against the booth, “Please, I was born to fence with silverware. I would crush you, easy.” He can only keep up his cocky demeanor for another small moment before cracking, shooting you a grin.

“Oh, is that so?” you raise an eyebrow before sinking your fork into the toasted ravioli on your plate, twirling it around as you hold it up. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

You take a bite of the ravioli, and he’s quick to retort, “Are you challenging me to a duel? In the middle of this refined establishment?” His voice is practically dripping with faux shock and horror, and you can’t help but let out a small laugh.

“I’m just saying, you gotta be able to put your money where your mouth is, Collins.”

He smiles, grabbing a ravioli for himself as he replies, “Well, maybe sometime when we aren’t surrounded by innocent civilians, I’ll prove my fork dueling skills.” After a quick bite, he adds, “Besides, I don’t think that old lady would be too thrilled about it, our laughing was offensive enough.”

You glance over to where he subtly gestured with his fork, and see a very old couple. It’s almost as if the woman can sense you looking, because she immediately turns and meets your gaze, with a glare that you think could probably kill you. You return your eyes to Trevor, trying to hold back a laugh as you say, “Holy shit, yeah, no, let’s hold off on this duel for now.” He doesn’t have time to respond before you add, “She also definitely caught me staring so… pretty sure I’m on her shit list now.”

Trevor locks eyes with you, deadly serious as he tells you, “You better watch out, pretty sure that red wine she’s drinking isn’t actually wine.”

You mimic his demeanor as you lean in closer, whispering, “Can you see her reflection on any of the silverware? Is there any color in her cheeks, like, at all?” He quickly glances over, and shakes his head. “Well, fuck.”

“Listen, you’re cool and all, but if you’ve got a vampire after you, you might have to find your own way home tonight.”

Your eyes are still locked as you stay quiet for a moment, the two of you almost daring each other to break the stare, but then the corner of Trevor’s mouth quirks. You can’t keep from laughing at that point, and neither can he, neither of you paying any mind to the dirty look the same woman throws your way.

“If we get kicked out of here before my pasta shows up, I’m blaming you.”

Trevor laughs under his breath, grabbing another ravioli as he replies, “I mean, you’re the one staring at harmless old ladies.”

“You told me to! And I’m not sure how harmless she’ll be when she catches me in an alley, ready to snap my neck; did you see the look she gave me?” You try your best to keep your voice accusatory, but the smile on your face immediately betrays you. God, how could you not smile when this man was smiling right back?

“Eh, you’re a tough kid, you’ll manage.”

You laugh as you chew your next bite, swallowing before adding, “Thanks for that vote of confidence.”

“Oh, anytime.”

You’re not sure how someone’s smile can look so smug and so sincere in the same moment.

It’s surprising how easily the conversation flowed between the two of you at dinner. Sure, you talked to each other at the office, got on fairly well, but that was usually with other people around. You never expected to spend so much one-on-one time with someone and not fall into an awkward silence at some point.

And yet, here you are, in the passenger seat of Trevor’s car as he drives you home, the silence between the two of you something comfortable, safe. He hums along to whatever Spotify playlist he has going, tapping the steering wheel, and you watch the Austin city streets go by in a blur of lights and nightlife.

“I had no clue you were in the same neighborhood as me,” you break the silence, “but I’m glad you don’t have to go too far out of your way to get my dumb ass home.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t have minded going out of my way to get your dumb ass home,” he fires back, shooting you a grin. You roll your eyes with a laugh, and he adds, “For real though, don’t sweat it; Lyft fare is bullshit, and I’m more than happy to help.”

You smile over at him as you reply, “Well, thank you.”

He pulls his car into the one available spot outside your townhouse, meaning one of your roommates is out for the night, and he parallel parks with an ease you can’t fathom. As he puts the car in park, you unbuckle your seatbelt, turning towards him to say, “Thanks for the ride, and for the company. I definitely had a way better time than I thought I would tonight, working after office hours on Valentine’s Day.”

“Hey, anytime!” he says as he opens his door, and you get out of the car as well. “I had fun laughing at old ladies and disturbing the peace with you.”

“I mean, the latter is Achievement Hunter’s specialty, isn’t it?”

“Gotta represent the brand,” he adds as the two of you make your way to your door, both exchanging dumb smiles.

“So, can I ask a dumb question?” you ask, standing in front of your door, shifting on your feet slightly.

“Hit me with it.”

You know you’ll probably regret asking, but you’ll also regret not asking so, might as well. “Would you wanna, um, go out again?” Before he can even respond, you’re quick to add, “I understand if this like, wasn’t a thing, though; I just, figured I’d ask.”

He laughs under his breath, smiling down at you. “This definitely was a thing, yeah. I would’ve asked you out legitimately weeks ago, but I kept second guessing myself; and when I saw you in the office tonight, I finally kicked my own ass and said something, though uh… clearly not well.”

“Hey, we got there eventually, and I had a great time so, I’d say you did well enough.”

Your smile is incredibly teasing, and honestly, he looks like he wants to kiss you right there. But, instead, he settles for kissing your forehead, and you can’t fight the blush that rises to your cheeks. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Bright and early,” you reply, unlocking your front door, “and I’m taking that as a yes, you do wanna go out again?”

“You’re a nerd.”

You stick your tongue out at him as he smiles, kissing your cheek before continuing, “But yes, that’s one hundred percent a yes.”

You’re practically beaming as you say, “See you tomorrow, Collins.”

“Bright and early,” he grins before walking back to his car, stopping before he opens the door. “Goodnight, (y/n).”

As you say goodbye and close the door behind you, you can’t keep from giggling to yourself, still blushing. Maybe, maybe Valentine’s Day was kind of okay.

If it was with him, anyways.

#trevor collins x reader #trevor collins x you #trevor collins imagine #trevor collins reader insert #achievement hunter imagine #achievement hunter reader insert #rooster teeth imagine #rooster teeth reader insert #ragehappy #trevc0 #mod emily

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tilltheendwilliwrite · 6 years

Text

Balance on the Head of a Pin

Chapter Twenty Five

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Loki Laufeyson x OFC | Word Count: 7825 Warnings: none

Lauren’s gaze remained on the empty place Loki had once occupied for a few long heartbeats before she finally managed to make her body work again. She shook. Not from fear, but from relief. Though she’d only learned of the bond growing between herself and Loki hours ago, the niggling concern she’d be unable to fulfill the final step when, really, she had no idea how she’d managed the first four, had left her doubting herself.

What if she messed up? What if she never figured out what the magical secret was? What if she failed and Loki never found peace?

She realized now what a stupid thought that had been. It hadn’t been something she had to do, but something she needed to accept. In that single moment of blinding clarity when he’d held her against him, and she’d let go, surrendered to him completely, it had been so clear. There was nowhere in the world she wanted to be more than with him, at his side, forever.

Everything she’d told Sadie, the incredible fairytale romance which she’d somehow become the leading lady in had led her to one realization. She could be happy, whatever came, whatever the future held, as long as she was with Loki. With that thought, she’d fully committed.

On shaky legs, she turned to face the mirror and lifted a trembling hand to her throat. The green stone was incredible. She’d never seen anything like it, not that that surprised her. It flickered with inner fire and was warm to the touch. Such a soothing warmth. It gave her the same feeling of comfort being in Loki’s arms did.

The serpents were beautiful. So realistic, they looked as if the could come alive and bite with those wickedly sharp fangs. Tiny black gems for eyes glittered, and though the torque was gold, it was a multitude of tones. Everything from the shiniest, brightest gold, gleaming like the sun, to the deepest of antique. There were even hints of green and rose glinting from the scales. It was the most exquisitely detailed piece of jewelry she had ever seen.

It was nearly impossible to drag her eyes from it, but she knew she had to. There was a party to oversee and two gods of Asgard to keep an eye on. Plus whatever mischief Loki had gotten up to in the ballroom.

She couldn’t imagine anything needing to be changed, not with how refined his tastes were, but… it wouldn’t hurt to make sure.

The box Sadie mentioned was small and flat, and Lauren lifted off the lid to reveal pink tissue paper. From inside, she pulled out an off-white silk teddy which was, to her mind, not much better than no underwear at all, but - her thoughts turned to later that night and Loki’s face when the dress fell to reveal… this.

Oh, yes. She would definitely wear the teddy.

It was exceptionally low cut in the back, but with her dress, it was a necessity. The silk was seamless, contouring to her body as Lauren drew it up. She slipped her arms through the holes, noting the deep cut to the sides and minor boning in the front which lent support to her breasts.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and had to smirk a little. Loki would swallow his tongue when he saw her. At least, she hoped he would. He left her breathless so often, she’d really like to return the favour.

Her dress was hanging on the back of the door, looking elegant and beautiful, and when she touched it, a shiver of pleasure snaked its way through her body. The party had suddenly become even more important to her.

If this were her, for lack of a better term, Asgardian binding day, she would cherish every minute of it. Nothing would spoil tonight. Not her mother or her sisters. Not anything.

She slipped the dress on carefully and smoothed it out. Yes, Sadie was a damn genius, but Loki’s addition of the golden chain across her shoulders and down her spine had also been brilliant.

Tonight she felt regal. She felt like the absolute belle of the ball. When she looked into the mirror again, she wondered at the glow which seemed to radiate from within. Was it her happiness which made her seem so? Or was it something more? She’d have to ask Loki to know for sure.

She quietly opened the door to see Sadie tugging up the side zipper on a strapless sequined red dress that fell only to mid-thigh, showing off her incredible legs and the sky-high white pumps with the sparkle-encrusted heels.

“Wow, Sadie!” Lauren gasped.

“I know right?” she giggled, reaching for the bracelet of diamonds and rubies Marcus had given her as a wedding gift.

Lauren remembered it vividly as she’d helped him pick it out, managed to haggle him a deal and keep him from buying anything gaudy. The tennis bracelet had been a perfect fit for both budget and bride.

Sadie turned to seek assistance, only to have the item slide through her fingers to the floor. “Oh, my god… oh… oh, my god! Is that… did you… how? Y’all were gone all of ten minutes!”

Lauren laughed even as her eyes watered and waved a hand at her face to keep the tears at bay. “I know!”

“Okay, okay, okay.” Sadie fanned her own face. “No cryin’. Neither of us can afford blotchy faces, but what the hell happened?”

Lauren shook her head. “I can’t, or I’ll cry. Just,” she hurried across the room and hugged her friend, “I want you to know him much you mean to me Sadie. Talkin’ about all that’s happened, gettin’ it out, helped put things in perspective.”

“Oh, dang it all, Lu! Why’d you have to go and say that?” Sadie sniffled.

“Because, Sadie, you’re my best friend, and I love you with every bit of my heart.” Lauren held her close as both grew teary-eyed and sniffled.

“Okay! Enough of bein’ sappy old women.” She pushed Lauren back. “My goodness though, Lu. You look like someone lit a firework inside you. You just sparkle!”

Lauren blushed as she crouched to pick up Sadie’s bracelet. “You’re the one who sparkles. Look at that dress.”

Sadie ran her hands down her side. “Well, I bought it before I found out about the baby and figured if it still fit, I was gonna wear it.”

“You look great, really.”

A pout replaced Sadie’s smile. “I’m kinda annoyed.” She turned sideways in the mirror. “No bump.”

“Give it time,” Lauren snickered as she clipped Sadie’s bracelet around her wrist. “I’m sure you’ll be complainin’ about too much bump in no time.”

“I suppose you’re right about that.” Sadie snickered and hurried over to the garment bag, hung up on the inside of Lauren’s closet door. “Now, I know we talked about shoes when y’all were at the store, but after Loki added his embellishments, I thought maybe these might be better.”

Lauren gasped when Sadie turned with the stunning gold shoes in hand. “Sadie! They’re gorgeous! But how?”

She waved a dismissive hand. “A few years back someone,” she rolled her eyes, “insisted she just had to have the gold weddin’ shoe from the Dolce and Gabbana line.” She crouched to set the heavily embellished shoe on the ground in front of Lauren. “Took me ages to finally get them in, and once I did she who shall not be named, lil’ miss prissy pants, decided they were too gaudy for her taste. More like her mama saw the price tag and threw a fit. They’ve been sittin’ in my stockroom takin’ up space ever since.”

“Did you at least keep her deposit?” Lauren asked as she lifted her dress and stepped into the first pump, knowing damn well Sadie was talking about Georgia Dalton.

“Damn right I did. The entire thirty percent and when she bitched about it, I explained, ever so nicely, that her thirty percent was to cover the cost of the shoes sittin’ in my stockroom cause no one else in their right mind would ever pay that kind of price for a pair of shoes.” Sadie fit the second shoe to Lauren’s foot and got back to her fee. “Well, except maybe your mama or Cissy.”

Lauren rotated her foot back and forth, watching the dark gold gleam. “You sure you ain’t gonna catch hell for this?” she asked softly.

“They’ve been collectin’ dust for four long years. It’s time someone wore them, and you just happen to have the same size feet as her, unlike me, or I would have worn them years ago.”

Lauren let go of her dress, sending the hem fluttering to the floor and took a final look at the two of them in the mirror. She ran her hands over the middle of her dress and tried not to bite her lip.

“Lu,” Sadie took her hand, “you look amazin’. No, more than that. You look like a princess like you belong on Loki’s arm. Tonight, no matter what anyone says, you hold your chin up, you stand tall, and you remember the fact that only you were special enough to earn the love of a god.”

“It’s like goin’ to war every time we do this,” Lauren whispered, clenching her shaking fist against her stomach.

“Yeah, Lu. I know, but this time you have two Avengers standin’ at your back. Remember who your friends are. Remember where your real family is at.” Sadie hugged her tight and tugged her toward the balcony doors. “Time to knock the socks off the men!”

Lauren breathed deep and pushed open the door only to have her heart stutter. “Loki.”

He’d changed his attire to that of a formal suit and looked like he’d stepped from the pages of a magazine. Not quite black, the three-piece suit was a dark grey with a sheen to it, the vest buttoned over a crisp white shirt. His tie had threads of gold worked into it which, on closer inspection, mimicked the serpentine pattern her pendant had once held. The pocket square tucket up by his lapel was of the same fabric, and Lauren smiled.

“You look wonderful!” she sighed, taking his offered hands when he made his way over.

“No, my darling. It is you who looks amazing. So radiant. You glow, my heart.” He kissed her cheek before holding her hands out to send an appreciative gaze over her. “Sadie dear, you have my thanks.”

Sadie blushed when Loki bowed to her. “Oh, well, Lu makes it easy. What can I say.”

***

But Loki wasn’t just speaking of the dress, or the hair, or Lauren’s shoes. He was talking about all of it. Every word which had passed the woman’s lips in these last few minutes had been spoken to lift his Lauren up. To raise her from the quagmire of despair and uncertainty her family had tried continuously to drown her in.

Sadie was a true friend, a real sister to his Lauren. In no way would Loki ever be able to repay the petite brunette for all she’d done to continue to bolster Lauren when her spirits flagged.

“Shall we?” he said instead, waving his hand and opening a portal.

“Oh, but Sadie is…” Lauren looked at her friend.

“With child. I am aware. She will be fine, darling.” He held out his hand to the woman practically bouncing on her tall shoes.

“I have no idea how you know that, but I don’t care! I’m so in!” Sadie squealed and gripped his hand tightly.

Loki chuckled. Her enthusiasm was charming. “Let us start with the garden.”

“Garden?” Lauren asked as she stepped through on his arm.

“Oh! That’s a bit of a head rush, ain’t it?” Sadie giggled as they arrived at the edge of the garden.

“It takes getting used to,” Loki said, nodding to Thor who was waiting for them. He cast a critical eye over his brother who had managed to shift his own attire to something resembling formal wear. “One would think you had learned something of fashion from all the parties Stark throws.” He flicked his fingers and corrected things, so Thor no longer looked as if he’d purchased an ill-fitting suit off the rack.

“I’m not even sure why I packed a suitcase at this point,” Lauren snickered.

Thor, meanwhile, had zeroed in on the torque gleaming with the low light of evening.

“My bonded Ástvinur, brother,” Loki smiled proudly.

“Lauren,” Thor whispered, voice hoarse before he walked forward and dropped to a knee at her feet, took up her hand and brought it to his forehead. “I can’t express… you have given me… thank you.”

She gently cupped his cheek, her eyes shining with hard-fought tears. “Please don’t. I can’t keep fixin’ my makeup.”

He chuckled and lurched to his feet to sweep her up in a hug that lifted Lauren into the air. “My sister! You have done it, my sister!” he bellowed, laughing his big booming laugh as he swung them around in a circle.

“Please don’t break my wife,” Loki muttered, arching a brow at his brother.

“Wife!?” Sadie squeaked, her eyes growing round.

“By Asgardian standards, yes. Though we have yet to wed by Midgard law, for all express purposes Lauren is most certainly my wife.” Loki held out his hand to draw her back to his side when Thor released her, only to be grabbed himself and pounded heartily on the back.

“Then you should give it to her,” his brother insisted once he’d let Loki go, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring sternly.

“You know how she feels about that,” Loki huffed.

“What?” Lauren asked.

“She already wears mother’s bracers. You know Frigga would have wanted her to have it,” Thor argued.

“Have what?” Lauren asked.

“But she has no desire to be put in that position,” Loki countered, glaring at Thor.

“Hey!” Lauren smacked Loki in the chest. “Standin’ right here! Stop talkin’ over me like I’m not!”

“Forgive me, darling.” Loki sighed, continuing to glare at Thor whom he was certain was about to get him in trouble. “My brother is referring to this.” He turned his hand over, allowing the circlet of delicately worked gold and precious white stones to appear in his palm.

“Oh!” she gasped and recoiled slightly. “Is that… what I think it is?”

“It was our mother’s. The one she wore most often for daily summons and court appearances,” Thor explained, his eyes bright with excitement.

“Oh, but I…” Lauren trailed off when she looked at Sadie.

“You’ll never know until you try, Lulu,” Sadie encouraged.

She took a deep breath, and Loki held his. Would she accept? Dare she? It was a huge step but, as he’d continuously been telling her, the people of Asgard would love her as their princess.

“Maybe… maybe I could… try it on?” she said, a nervous flush adding pink to her cheeks.

Loki somehow managed to keep his features schooled as he murmured, “You certainly should.” He took the circlet, far stronger than its delicate appearance belied, much like Lauren herself, and placed it down over her brow. It was barely the width of his thumb. Refined. Elegant. Exquisite against the softness of her skin.

“Oh, Lauren,” Sadie sighed, her hand going to her mouth as her eyes watered. “I feel like I should curtsey and call you, your highness!”

Lauren’s eyes grew very round. “No! Don’t be doin’ that, Sadie.” She reached up to take it off, but Loki captured her hands.

“You look lovely, my heart.” A wisp of magic rose to slide the circlet beneath the top layer of her hair, leaving only the band across her forehead visible. “There. It is not so noticeable, but it makes me happy to know you wear it.”

Her cheeks were quite red, and she trembled slightly prompting Loki to send a glance Thor’s way.

“Lady Sadie.” Thor smiled at the woman. “Why don’t you and I take a turn around the garden?” Though it was voiced as a question, he didn’t allow the woman to deny him, simply swept her arm into his and started away.

Loki brought Lauren’s hands to his chest and set them there before gently cupping her cheeks. “What’s wrong, elskan min?”

“It’s just… a lot to get used to. I’m not sure about this whole… princess thing.”

“I know, darling.” He brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. “It is only a pretty piece of jewelry. I can remove it if you wish?”

She sighed. “Thor’s really pushy, ain’t he?”

“That he is,” Loki chuckled softly.

“Sadie said I should try it, that maybe I’d like it if I gave it a chance.”

“Your friend is quite smart.”

“She has her moments.” A small smile curled Lauren’s lips.

“What’s really bothering you, love?”

“Mama’s parties give me anxiety,” she sighed, stepping into him and sliding her hands up his chest to wrap behind his neck as his went around her. She rested her cheek against him. “You didn’t hear what she said earlier, did you?”

“When your father intervened?” She nodded. “No. Why? What did she say?”

“Nothin’. It’s not relevant anymore.” She settled further into him.

Loki couldn’t help but let his hands dip into the edges of her dress, caressing her bare back. “Now I am quite curious. What did she say?”

“Promise me you won’t freak out?”

His hand drifted up her back to the nape of her neck where the tails of the serpents twined together creating the clasp of her torque. “I promise.” It was an easy one to make, knowing she was forever more his.

“She said I shouldn’t be wastin’ my time bein’ a princess when I could be queen.”

“What!” he snarled.

She gave his hair a tug. “You promised.”

He calmed instantly. “Apologies. I was understandably surprised, though, why it still surprises me when people prefer Thor is a mystery. They always prefer Thor.”

“Not me,” she whispered, lifting her head to look at him. “I never have. It’s always been you, Loki.”

“Elskan min,” he growled softly and ducked his head to kiss her lush red lips. He could feel the love swell in her heart, so much stronger now with the jewel pulsing at her throat. Loki slipped his fingers beneath her hair and cupped the base of her skull, holding her tight to him with a firmly splayed hand on the bare skin of her lower back.

He licked her lip and slipped between them to flick his tongue over the tip of hers, press and stroke them together, and when she whimpered that soft, sweet mewl of desire he was coming to know so well, he tilted his head, sealed their mouths together and moaned.

His magic spiralled with it, trickling down to fill her with his power. While she couldn’t use it, it wasn’t about to flow out of her like it had a few days ago in the helicopter. This time it remained, humming inside her, and when he lifted his head to look down at her, her lashes fluttered open to reveal emerald eyes which glimmered with the green of his magic. Gold flecks sparkled in the depths, and she was, quite simply, the most gorgeous creature he’d ever laid eyes on.

“Your beauty knows no end tonight, my heart.” He’d thoroughly wrecked her lipstick, though, and ran his thumb over her lips to fix it before swiping his hand over his mouth to remove what had transferred. While he’d enjoyed the red painted on her lush mouth, he preferred the glossy texture she regularly employed and gave the red a high sheen. Now, they looked like the skin of a ripe apple waiting to be bitten.

“Thank you, peaches.” She straightened his tie, pausing when her gaze landed on the cuffs around her wrists. “Were these really Frigga’s?”

“They were. There were a few key pieces she’d always said would be mine one day. Mine for my Ástvinur should I desire them.” He turned and tucked her arm into the crook of his elbow. “I took them to be petty when I left Asgard. They were mine by right. Left to me by Frigga. Though we were on poor terms when she passed, I do not believe she would have ever struck that wish from her heart. And I wanted them,” he shrugged, “a piece of her to keep close. The comb from earlier was also hers.” It had been laying on Lauren’s dresser, and he’d quickly put it away, not daring to leave it out where Cissy’s sticky fingers could find it.

“I thought them regal before. Now that I know they were hers, I’ll cherish them,” she said, touching one gently.

“We shared a special bond, Frigga and I because of seiðr, the type of magic we do. I know she would have loved you quite fiercely had she lived and shown you off proudly.” She blushed, as he’d expected, making him chuckle as they rounded the first hedgerow.

Lauren gasped staring at the image before her. “Loki… what… how?”

He smiled proudly. “Mother has been on my mind much lately. This is my tribute to her.” He swept his hand out, setting thousands of lights ablaze around the twisting knots of the rose garden. Flowers burst into bloom, filling the air with their fragrance as red and white and deep ocean blue unfurled around them. But in the very center of the intricate paths and raised beds, stood a pool of sparkling blue water toward which he led a speechless Lauren.

“Oh, my gosh, Lauren!” Sadie cried, jumping up and down beside Thor. “Y’all have got to see this!”

Lauren was staring at the tree rising from the water. At the flowers dripping from its branches. The Fortryllende was in full bloom, tall and stately, but it wasn’t the tree Sadie was enthralled with, unaware of its importance.

“Loki… that’s the flower you made for Gran.” Tears sparkled on her lashes.

“It is. Odin’s gift to Frigga. A fitting addition to tonight, seeing as my intended is now my bonded. I will have to give Father a hard time. It certainly didn’t take me one-hundred days to entice my chosen to me.” He snickered, and Thor chuckled. “But I believe Sadie is referring to the creatures swimming among the roots, not the tree itself.”

He led Lauren to the water’s edge. “Look, darling.” Loki crouched and dangled his fingers in the water, calling one closer. It curled its way around his wrist to climb up and sit, wet and dripping, on the back of his hand.

“Oh, my stars!” Lauren squeaked as she crouched down beside him, Sadie and Thor looking on. “It’s a little dragon!”

Loki chuckled and shook his head. “It is a Voktere. They are the keepers of Fortryllende trees, tending the roots and seeing them free of pests and disease. When Odin created the flowers, and in turn the trees, these flocked to them in droves.” He pet the small head of the dragon-like creature. Scaled and reptilian, they had long sinuous bodies, came in a variety of jewel tones and had tails similar to fancy fish with large flowing fins.

When Lauren reached out tentatively, Loki shook his head while urging the creature off his hand. “I am afraid these are all illusion, my darling. One day I will take you to the Fortryllende tree in Frigga’s actual garden and introduce you to the Voktere for real.” He showed her his hand, free of water.

“Loki’s illusions have increased in potency nearly one-hundred fold,” Thor said proudly. “His magic has become something to marvel at, my sister.”

“How much of this is an illusion?” Lauren asked, taking Loki’s offered hands when he rose to help her back to her feet.

“A good portion. A few strategically placed beds contain the roses for scent, but for the rest,” he ran his hand through a hedge and made it waver, “simply a pleasing façade.”

“Y’all must be a riot ‘round Halloween!” Sadie clapped excitedly.

“If one could get him to participate,” Thor nudged Loki’s shoulder.

Loki rolled his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. “It is such a trite holiday. Everything is either zombies or werewolves or vampires.” He snapped his teeth together and smiled a set of sharp fangs. “What’s so scary about this?”

Heat flared, a delicious shiver of it that raced through him from the heart stone. He snapped his gaze down to Lauren and found pink cheeks and lustful eyes staring at his mouth.

“Perhaps this year I will consider participating.” He grinned and stroke a fang with his tongue.

Lauren swallowed rather hard. “My what big teeth you have,” she whispered, her hand coming up to flutter before landing on his chest.

“I believe those were the next set of teeth over,” he chuckled wickedly, letting his eyes run to gold before returning to green.

“Damn,” Sadie sighed. “Y’all are tryin’ to kill the rest of us.” She fanned her face rapidly.

Thor chuckled and collected her hand to his elbow. “Asgardians have few reservations when it comes to worldly pleasures. We are a sensual people,” he purred to Sadie.

“Thor! Cut it out!” Lauren barked. “Stop flirtin’ with my friend.”

“No, no. Keep goin’. Please,” Sadie giggled.

Lauren shook her head. “Two words, Sadie June. Marcus and baby.”

“Spoilsport,” Sadie pouted.

“You are with child?” Thor grinned big and wide. “How auspicious! A blessing on you, fair Sadie. May your son or daughter be favoured by the gods and successful in their chosen future.” With that said, he leaned down and kissed her square on the mouth.

“What in the blue blazes?”

Lauren turned to see Marcus and Lafayette come through the flower maze. “Marcus!”

Thor lifted his head with a grin. “Ah! The father-to-be!” He set Sadie away from him, made sure she was stable, and practically bounced across the space to take Marcus by the shoulders. “Congratulations, my friend! You and your lovely wife will have a child blessed by Thor!”

It was as Thor was pounding the life out of Marcus in a bone-crushing hug that Lauren turned to Loki. “Huh?” she asked, gesturing between Sadie and Marcus.

Loki gave a long-suffering sigh. “While God of Thunder is his preferred title, Thor is also the God of Fertility.”

Her mouth fell open. “What?”

“There were a few centuries when Father was ready to rip his hair out because of Thor’s appeal to women.” Loki snickered.

“So… the way he handled mama and Marabeth?”

“It’s a gift.”

“And this?” She motioned toward Sadie.

“Exactly what he said it was. He’s blessed her and their child.”

Lauren snorted in obvious amusement, turning her face into his chest. “Does that mean Sadie’s baby is goin’ to be better behaved, or just like Thor is?”

“You know,” Loki bit back a chuckle, “I have no idea. I’ve never been interested enough to find out how a blessing goes.”

“Maybe… maybe we should see how this one goes… before we let him bless any of ours?” she whispered, glancing up at him and biting her lip.

The intense surge of desire which raced through him with that question was strong enough to knock down a mountain, but he contained it, just barely, to bend close to her ear and murmur, “Or, we keep going until he gets it right.”

She jerked back to glare at him. “Just how many babies you think I’m gonna be havin’?”

“As many or as few as you want, my heart.” He skimmed his fingers up her spine, setting the slim chains swinging sensually against her back. “Whatever makes you happy, darling.” She sighed, a smile pulling at her lips when she rested her head against his heart.

Over her head, however, he levelled a hard look at Lafayette who seemed unable to pull his eyes from Lauren’s bare back. He stood next to Thor, mouth agape, while his brother thoroughly disconcerted Sadie’s husband.

“Come, darling. I will show you the rest before more guests arrive.” Loki dropped his hand to lay possessively against her lower back. “Brother, you have quite made your point. Let us continue on while the lady Sadie and her husband catch up.”

“Right, right.” Thor gripped Marcus’s shoulders tightly. “A virile male! It is good!” He slapped the man’s arms heartily, turned and made his way toward them, offering the still stunned Sadie a short bow. “Until later.”

“Huh? Yeah. Dance.” Sadie nodded.

They were nearly back to the terrace, out of earshot of the three they’d left behind when Lauren burst out laughing. “I think that’s the first time in years I’ve seen Sadie tongue-tied!” Though she laughed, her eyes were in constant motion and full of excitement, lighting up in wonder or awe when her gaze alighted on something new which pleased her.

Her happiness simply bubbled out of her.

“It is so rare I meet a woman in the first blush of her pregnancy. It puts a pep in one’s step!” Thor chuckled. “Perhaps I am overzealous, but new life should be celebrated. Too often all we see is death and the aftermath of destruction. It is good to see the renewal as well.”

Lauren came to a stop and turned toward Thor where she pressed up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Y’all are just a big softy.”

“Complete with a gooey center,” Loki agreed.

“The same one that lies beneath your hard shell,” Lauren quipped, picking up her dress in the front to take the terrace stairs.

Loki took her free hand, ignoring the comment, while Thor cupped her elbow to assist her up the stairs. “There is still time to change anything you dislike,” he assured Lauren, trying not to fidget. Thor threw him a look which clearly said he was being stupid, but he couldn’t help the small niggling feeling that she would hate it.

“If it’s anythin’ like the garden? What wouldn’t I… like… oh, Loki!” she gasped, staring open-mouthed at her surroundings. Her hand left his as she walked further into the room to tilt her head back and stare at the ceiling. “How?” she asked.

He tucked his hands into his pockets and looked up with her. “There’s a cave on Vanaheim. The ceiling is made of such crystal.” The five chandeliers had been replaced by three large stalactites, a multitude of smaller crystals filing in space around them. Thor’s lightning was caught in the center crystal but had jumped to both outer ones as well, creating a soft glow over the room, forming shadows on the walls and floor with the cloudy nature of the smoky crystal.

The light from the windows was beginning to fade, and as it did, the blue sparks he’d set in the sheers became more apparent, floating much like the fireflies had. Lauren’s hand shook where it hovered over her lips as she took in the floor and the forest of trees along the walls.

There was a band setting up in the corner near the rear of the room, and Loki urged Lauren toward the side rooms. “Thor thought a taste of home wouldn’t be out of place tonight.”

She said nothing as she stepped into the first room, dark but for flickering candles and twinkling sky. Sue Ann was puttering, but she only looked up, grinned at Loki, smiled appreciatively at Lauren, and went back to arranging the food.

As he led Lauren away, Thor remained behind. The sound of fingers getting smacked made Loki smirk, but Lauren’s silence was beginning to concern him.

In the next room with the blue-lit bar and ceiling full of vines, she inhaled sharply as she made her way toward the man at the back who swiftly poured her a glass of wine, evidently aware of her preferences.

“Thanks, Mike,” she whispered hoarsely.

“The place looks incredible, miss Lauren. I was mighty impressed. Knew it had to be your doin’.” The man nodded at her and smiled.

“His doin’,” she said pointing at Loki after downing a healthy swallow of wine.

Loki gave a slight shrug and took her hand to lead her to the final room.

There, beneath the branches laden with flowers, under twinkling lights, and reflected by mirrors, she set her glass on a table and burst into tears.

His heart stopped. “No! No, no!” Loki leapt forward to drag her into his arms. “You can’t cry! I’ll fix it! I’ll fix everything! Just tell me what I did wrong?”

“Nothin’!” she sobbed, sliding her arms up to wrap them around his neck.

His heart kicked hard and restarted. “Then why are you crying, love?”

“Because!”

He wanted to laugh, she was so damn adorable but fought it back. “That is not really an answer.”

“It’s p-perfect!” she wailed.

“Then you should be happy, my heart, not soaking me in your tears.”

“You don’t,” she gasped, “understand!”

He stroked her back and shifted them over until he could urge her into a chair and sat with their knees touching. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a square of linen and gently wiped her face. “Help me understand.”

She took the linen to mop her wet cheeks, breathed out a shaky breath, and wiped her nose. “These parties, they’re… they’re like goin’ into battle. No matter how hard I’d try, somehow I’d always fail. Never good enough, that was me. But this,” she looked up at the ceiling, black tracking her cheeks from her makeup, “this is like a fairytale come true. Like walkin’ into another world. I’ve never seen… anythin’ so, so magical.”

Her chin wobbled, and Loki reached out to cup her cheek. “You, my sweet, kind, precious, Lauren have never been a failure. You excel at everything you try your hand at. If your mother or your sisters claimed you were a failure it was out of jealousy or spite. I am certain even tonight they will find something of fault for that is how they are, but it is not you who is the problem. It is them. It always has, and will always be them.”

“It’s easy to hear and easy to say, but harder to believe,” she sighed, leaning into his touch.

“I know. I know, darling.” He pulled her closer and let his forehead rest against hers. “I can only tell you, you are not responsible for them. You are not responsible for their happiness. You are not at fault for their misery. The only one you are responsible for making happy is you.”

“Loki.” She threaded her fingers through his hair while clutching the cloth in her lap.

“And me. I will always strive toward making you happy.”

A fresh tear trickled down her cheek as she shifted from her chair to his lap. “You make me… so happy,” she whispered hoarsely.

He stole the handkerchief back to catch the fresh tears. “That’s good, my sweet, but your tears hurt my heart, even the happy ones. Your eyes should never be wet.” Of course saying so caused a fresh flood of tears to fall from her eyes.

“I love you, Loki. I love you,” she said softly, her hands clinging to his neck.

“I know, pet, as I love you.” He wiped her tears and kissed her, gentle brushes of soft lips tasting of salt but not sorrow, until they slowed to a stop. “No more tears. Not tonight. Tonight, though it is known only to a few, we celebrate our binding.” He touched her torque lightly then encouraged her to her feet where he cupped her face as she grasped his wrists.

Green eyes, now red-rimmed, would not stay so. Neither would her makeup smeared face, but he held her there, remembering this moment, memorizing it, for he vowed silently to never see such pain track across her features again. “You must remember, Lauren, no matter what comes, you are no longer alone. You have me, your Ástvinur, standing proudly at your side. You have the King of Asgard at your elbow, and you have a terrific friend in your Sadie. She is a fierce thing for one so small.”

She giggled at that and breathed in deeply to stave off fresh tears. “She’s like a stick of dynamite. A big explosion in a small package.”

Loki chuckled. “That she is.”

“Alright. Let’s fix me up before anyone sees the mess I’ve made of myself.” She frowned at his shoulder. “And you. I smeared makeup on your collar.”

“An easy fix, darling.” Magic rippled, quickly there and gone, setting them both to rights and vanishing the soiled handkerchief. “There. No one shall be the wiser.” He stepped back to take a long look at her and slowly shook his head in amazement. “You are striking, my heart. A Goddess among men this eve. Come,” he held out his elbow for her, “I am quite desperate to show you off.”

Another giggle escaped her, lifting his heart from the pit it had been wallowing in with her upset. The bright blush he loved adorned her cheeks. Her hand closed lightly around his arm, she retrieved her glass, and he led her from the mirrored room at a pace which showcased her grace.

Hoyt and Magnolia were standing just inside the doors which led to the interior of the house, their mouths agape when he and Lauren appeared.

“Lauren!” Magnolia gasped. “Just look! I can’t believe it.”

“Isn’t it pretty, mama?” Lauren smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Why, I never! How do y’all think Quinn managed it?”

“She didn’t,” Loki snapped. “That wretched woman was making a mockery of things. Hideous, ghastly decorations. Then, when Lauren stepped in to put things to rights, requesting things be changed, she quit! The audacity of it. And the way she spoke to your daughter?” Loki scoffed, “Why, I can assure you she would no longer be in business had she treated Lauren with such disrespect in New York.”

“Loki, it’s fine, peaches.” She patted his arm.

“It most assuredly is not,” he muttered, but gave a long sigh and relented. “After, I humbly offered my services to my love to assist with the disaster left behind. Lauren throws such elegant soirees for Stark. It would have been such a shame to see her reputation sullied by someone else’s misdeeds.” He smiled pleasantly, though it was a touch sharp, having rocked her parents back on their heels.

While he’d noted most of the men were dressed as he was, a dark suit with a red or white accent, Hoyt had forgone the red for blue.

It made Loki wonder just how pissed off it had made Magnolia. She was eyeing Lauren’s outfit rather sharply. While the white dress was likely above reproach, all her gold accents were out of place in Magnolia’s theme.

A theme she’d taken to heart. Her off the shoulder red dress had a heart-shaped neckline and high waisted tulle skirt which flowed to the floor in a simple bell shape. Her elbow length white gloves, necklace and earrings of chunky diamonds, and high swept hair were, to his mind, overdone.

While Magnolia floundered to find words, Hoyt stepped forward and held out his hand. “I thank you kindly for your help, Loki. This is…” Hoyt motioned to the room, “I’ve never seen anythin’ like it.”

Loki grasped the hand and nodded his head. “Much of it is an illusion and will return to what it once was after the party. I may have gone… slightly overboard but it was to assist my radiant Ástvinur, so how could I not.”

Hoyt smiled at Lauren before leaning down to kiss her cheek. “You’re gonna be the star of the party tonight, little girl. You glow in that dress. You make sure and save your daddy a dance, you hear?”

“I’ll save him two,” Lauren said, her smile brighter than the diamonds on her mother when she pressed up to return his kiss.

“Your mother and I are gonna start greetin’ guests.” He nodded to the two of them, gripped Magnolia’s arm firmly, and hustled her away before she could speak.

“Oh, my,” Lauren snickered and sipped her wine. “Mama appears to be at a loss for words. I think that’s a first.”

“Should I put in my request for my dances now?” Loki teased, taking her in his arms. “After all, you’ve promised your father and Thor, and with how stunning you look, there will be men lined up waiting to snatch you away. I’m afraid I am feeling rather uninclined to share, darling.”

She laughed, and the sound was musical, seeming to rise up and echo amongst the crystals on the ceiling. “And what of you? Looking so dapper and handsome,” she pouted prettily. “It’s not as if you have a ring on your finger to ward off all the hussy’s who’ll be tryin’ to steal you from me for a dance.”

A flash of green surrounded his left hand. “You mean like this, my heart?” He smirked wickedly when he held his hand up and ran his thumb over the gold band wrapped in runes.

“You’re so bad,” she snickered. “They’ll all think I married in secret.”

He pulled her closer and breathed wantonly against her ear, “Didn’t you?”

“Ugh, must you, Lauren?” Marabeth muttered.

Loki looked up to glare her way when Lauren stiffened. It wasn’t something her sister would have noticed, but he’d felt the tension return to Lauren’s body. “No Samuel this evening?” he asked, knowing it was nasty and not caring.

“He’ll be arriving late!” Marabeth snapped, marching off with Quinn dogging her heels. At one point she stepped on Marabeth’s dress causing the woman to stop short and glare at Quinn.

“Do you think she knows how incredibly… wide that dress makes her ass appear?” he asked, Lauren.

“Loki!” she scolded, trying not to laugh.

“I am only saying, my heart, that the cut is not as flattering as it could be. Add in that enormous bow, and the garish colour, and I’m afraid she is having a ‘what not to wear’ moment.” The ball was meant to be red and white, not red edging into orange which did absolutely nothing for Marabeth’s complexion. “I’m going to assume she chose it herself. I can’t see Sadie making such an error even if she does dislike your sister.” He stroked his hands down her arms. “Not when she did such an exquisite job picking this for you.”

The click of heels drew his attention as Cissy passed without acknowledging either of them.

“Huh,” Loki grunted as she went by.

“What?” Lauren asked.

“She reminds me of a red Big Bird.”

Lauren barked out a laugh before biting her lip to contain it. “Just how much TV do you watch?”

He shrugged. “Midgardian daytime television is both fascinating and mind-numbing, but it alleviated the boredom I suffered when I was first here. Still, you cannot tell me she does not bear a striking similarity to the large yellow fowl creature on that children’s show. Either that or she forgot half her dress.”

The corset bodice, though it looked much like something which should be worn beneath one’s clothing, was heavily patterned in cut crystals, while the skirt was created of red and black feathers and fell to just above her knees.

“Remind me to introduce you to some better TV when we get back to the tower,” Lauren snickered softly, waving at Sadie as she and her husband made their way toward them.

Loki’s eye was caught by the visage of his brother, head and shoulders taller than the majority of the people, making his way through the growing crowd. There was a distinct scowl on his face, and when their gazes locked, Thor stopped and motioned toward the doors.

“Excuse me, my heart. It appears Thor needs me a moment.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and slipped away from her side as Sadie arrived. “I’ll be back shortly,” he assured them as he passed, making his way swiftly toward Thor.

“Brother?”

Thor tilted his head toward the door. “Listen.”

Loki frowned but turned his hearing toward the door. His eyes snapped up to the lights coming nearer and immediately snarled something, not for polite company, in the old tongue. “I thought you told them to stay away?”

“I did!” Thor huffed. “What do you want to do? We could make them leave.”

“I could drop them through a portal,” Loki snarled stalking toward the door. People cleared from his path with a swiftness he’d only ever seen Barnes achieve. When they made the door and started down the terrace steps, avoiding the arriving guests who’d stopped to gawk at the incoming helicopter, Loki remembered his earlier foreboding. “There was a murder sitting in the trees tonight.”

“I saw it as well. Father sends a warning,” Thor murmured. “Do you think it was in regards to them?” He nodded toward the helicopter.

Slowly, Loki shook his head as he made his way through the garden. “Had they arrived prior to the binding finishing, I might have said yes. Now… I am not so sure.”

“So? What do you want to do?”

He looked at Thor a smiled. Wicked. Dark. Full of mischief. “Why, invite them to join us. I am certain Lauren won’t mind.”

“Loki? What are you planning?” Thor gripped his shoulder.

“Just a bit of fun, brother.”

“The last time we had just a bit of fun you dressed me up as a girl!”

Loki snorted at the memory. “And look at the fun you had.” He waved a hand, erecting a barrier which protected them from the downdraft of the landing helicopter. “We ate. You drank an ocean’s worth of ale. It was fun!”

“The drinking was fun,” Thor murmured, crossing his arms. “But if I end up in a dress again, I will kick your ass.”

“I’d like to see you try it now… brother,” he purred, knowing it would be much harder than it once was.

When the blades began to slow, Loki dismissed the shield and made his way forward as the door slid open. A slim hand was thrust from the inside, which he took without hesitation, and smiled like the cat who had eaten the canary. Things had just gotten so much more interesting.

Loki helped the woman descend to the ground and bowed over her hand. “Why, Miss Potts. How delightful of you to join us this evening.”

Next Chapter

#balance #loki #loki laufeyson #loki fanfiction #loki laufeyson fanfiction #god of mischief #god of mischief fanfiction #avengers #the avengers #avengers au #avengers fanfiction #fanfiction #southern belle

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ilovedeadlypremonition · 7 years

Photo

Deadly Premonition director, Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro, officially announced his upcoming “Debt Repayment Life Simulation RPG (with Cats)” The Good Life at his PAX West Panel this afternoon!

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We already got a short teaser trailer a week or so ago after the”cat was let out of the bag” but now with Swery’s official announcement we have a brand new trailer, tons of concept art, the game’s crowdfund details, and thanks to the official press release a more detailed plot outline.

THE STORY

Based in an RPG-style town filled with fun activities and fascinating people, THE GOOD LIFE offers a thrilling, twisting murder mystery. At first glance, Rainy Woods looks like a normal country town in Northern England comprised of stone houses built in the Middle Ages, nestled in abundant nature and surrounded by forest. Looking deeper, however, Rainy Woods is home to a bizarre and deadly mystery. Throughout the day, the townsfolk work hard, look out for one another, love their families, and enjoy nightly drinks at the local pubs. Each character has a unique personality and lifestyle. Events change depending on the time of day, weather, and season. Even though some may argue that they live in a video game world, the townsfolk of Rainy Woods still worry, suffer, love, hate, and have fun as any real person would. Rainy Woods and its small English aesthetic exudes a unique sense of charm, fully realized when, in the dark of night, its villagers transform into cats.

Players star as Naomi, a photographer straddled with debt who moves from New York City to Rainy Woods. As an étrangère, players feel both alienated yet strangely comfortable as they must make friends, solve mysteries, and become emotionally invested in Naomi’s quest to make a life for herself in the happiest and most bizarre town in the world. To pay off her debt, she sends reports and photographs on villagers and their town as she uncovers its deadly secret.

THE GOOD LIFE is a mystery tale in the vain of Raymond Chandler or Conan Doyle. Players make a tragic discovery in the town’s river—the brutally murdered body of a young girl, her heart pierced by an ancient, medieval sword. Having first arrived in Rainy Woods to uncover the secrets of the happiest town in the world and payoff her debt, Naomi is thrusted into a bizarre mystery, setting her journalist heart ablaze as she sets her sights on revealing the truth behind the young girl’s murder.

THE GAME

Genre: Debt Repayment Life Simulation RPG Platforms: PC + TBD Console(s) Release Date: Q3 2019 Target Developer: White Owls

So we got a murder mystery/life sim, with cute cats, a cast of bizarre characters with their own 24 hours schedules, AND events that will change depending on the time of day, weather and season?

[More details, pictures and my thoughts under the cut!]

The Campaign

If you are as hyped as I am you can help make Swery’s new game a reality by contributing to The Good Life’s Fig campaign. The development team is hoping to raise at least $1.5M USD to bring a digital version game to both PC and consoles. Fans can lend support via traditional reward based backing or by investing in Fig game shares of the game. There’s a number or different tiers and rewards available for The Good Life ranging from simply receiving a digital copy of the game when it is released for $29 to actually becoming a character within the game as a reward for donating a whopping $35K! Though if any rich fans out there are considering the $35k tier please note that there’s a chance you might end up being brutally murdered in the game. (Yikes!)

Looking at all the tiers though I must say I’m a bit disappointed by the lack of any sort of physical rewards being offered. I mean a real signed message card from Swery is a lot more tempting than a digital one… But there seems to be some hope that this may change looking at the responses to some of the early “backstage” backers. It seems Swery and the campaign team are looking into the possibility of including some physical rewards in the future and are even asking for suggestions!

Personally I would love to see a physical copy of the game or an art/guide book myself! Heck a stuffed kitty Naomi or even a sheep would be pretty awesome additions too!

[Update!] A physical award tier has been added and for $269+shipping you can get a package with some cool game swag! Now if you picked another tier don’t worry you can update your pledge and pick choose to add a number of DLC and physical items!

The Idea

Even though Swery’s announcement of a new game so soon after returning from retirement and opening his studio, White Owls, was kind of a surprise (or maybe it was just me?) it turns out Swery’s been developing the idea for The Good Life for quite awhile now.

According to the “SWERY’S Voice” video on The Good Life’s fig campaign page that describes the game’s inspiration, vision, and story the idea behind the game was sparked after Deadly Premonition’s producer (I assume Tomio Kanazawa) was suddenly transferred to London, England while Swery continued work on Deadly Premonition in Osaka, Japan. Swery was sad to be left behind but the long distance communication between the two ended up inspiring the idea of being sent to a rural English town and being unable to leave.

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Swery’s initial idea continued to refine and expand in the back of his mind over the years even while developing, the now sadly incomplete, D4 – Dark Dreams Don’t Die.

Back in 2015 Swery took a brief retirement from game development to focus on recovering from reactive hypoglycemia and during this hiatus he finished the first draft of a murder mystery novel set in a British countryside town from the perspective of a cat.

I've been eager to hear more about his mystery book for while but now with the The Good Life's announcement I'm beginning to think Swery's novel may have inspired the whole investigating a murder mystery while as a cat angle of The Good Life game.

Now this connection between the game and novel it is pure speculation on my part at this point but given that both are revolve around a strange premise of cat investigating a murder in a rural England just seems way too coincidental. Plus the novel's working title of " I Am Not a Cat " really makes me believe that the main character may have been a human at some point which is very similar to Naomi's situation in The Good Life as she only temporarily turns into a cat during the night while living Rainy Woods!

By the way the characters listed on the campaign page are kind of amazing…and here I thought the residents of Greenvale were a bit strange. I like how Swery seems to be continuing the tradition of a single black male among a caucasian population (who is also named the “totally normal cat” btw lol) and an insomniac who works with the dead. I wonder if the “person name Kaysen” that has occurred in Swery’s last three games (Spy Fiction, Deadly Premonition, and D4) will also continue in The Good Life? It is also kind of amusing that the “Handsome Nurse” is known just as “Gay Cat” I’m guessing this means Naomi won’t be able to make any love connections with that bloke?

Game Mechanics

In The Good Life the story mission focuses on three core points: paying off a huge debt, uncovering the town’s secret, and solving a murder of Elizabeth, the lone daughter of the village pastor.

Photography

Since Naomi is a professional photographer from New York it is no surprise that taking photos is a major gameplay mechanic featured in the game. The monetary rewards for Naomi’s daily reports will heavily factor around the quality and rarity of the photos players take during the day.

Capturing the perfect photo may prove to be a little difficult at first. You won’t actually know how any of your photos will turn out until they are developed them back at Naomi’s house and ranked as either a “success” or “failure” and only successful photos will be sent over to the client for rewards. As players progress through the game there will be opportunities to upgrade and even purchase special cameras that will help the players take better pictures.

Part- time Jobs

But taking photos and sending daily reports isn’t the only way Naomi can cut down her debt. The game also allows players to take a number of part time jobs around town including bartending at the local pub, delivering milk, shearing sheep and other rural tasks.

Some of these part time jobs will give the players opportunities to make a fortune but they can also be exhausting and some can even be dangerous so you have to choose your side jobs wisely!

Any money earned in these ventures can be put towards paying off the ever looming unpaid debt or spent on fun things for Naomi.

Customization

The Good Life is a RPG after all so it’s no surprise that as players progress through the game Naomi stats will improve and fun customizations for Naomi in both her human and cat forms can also be acquired. Naomi’s range of daily activity will expand based on her stamina and movement speed so the more points you earn or temporarily acquire via clothing will allow for more photo taking and fun activities during the day.

Life Maintenance and Stamina

…and speaking of stamina just like in Deadly Premonition and D4 it is important to keep Naomi well fed and rested during her stay in Rainy Woods. I’m pretty excited to see all the English dishes that will be available for consumption… There were a few dishes listed over on the campaign page including one of my favorites, Fish and Chips, which I have a feeling Naomi will end up eat a lot of during my own play through unless there happens to be a lot of smoked salmon…

But eating and sleeping isn’t the only thing players need to keep an eye on during Naomi’s stay they also must balance Naomi’s income so while she’s paying back her debt she will still have enough money left over to not only take care of her daily needs, but also have enough for the upkeep of her camera, the development of photos, and her daily shipments of reports back to New York.

The most surprising examples of one of her special expenses that’s listed over on the campaign page is the need to buy sanitary goods for Naomi once a month. It’s a normal expense in my own life but it’s something I’ve never seen mentioned let alone forced on a player to even consider while in control of a female protagonist before. It’s pretty amazing that sort of detail was even included!

I also thought that way alcohol consumption in the game is handled is really interesting as well. Giving Naomi alcohol will provide some high rewards in the short term as it will alleviate both her hunger and her thirst in one shot but if she continues to overindulge in drink throughout her stay she will develop a dependency for it. It’s pretty neat to see the real life consequence of addiction in a video game... I hope Rainy Woods also has a good 12-step program!

Special Events

The Good Life also features several seasonal events that offer special rewards. The game’s campaign didn’t go into a lot of details but in Spring there will be cherry blossom dance festival, there’s a Tea Harvest in Summer, while during the Fall Naomi can harvest nuts and catch fat river fish, and in Winter find minerals and maybe earn a present from Santa Claus(?)

Being a Cat

During the night while Naomi is in cat form players have the opportunity to investigate places you may not have access to while in human form and a chance to get closer to different villagers while they are in their cat forms by bringing them various trash…er I mean “kitty themed” presents…Some items you find while as a cat may even fetch a high price during the day and unlock some more special story events.

A few of the possible treasures a player can find are seen above...Hmm, I wonder if those “suspicious seeds” are anything like the ones you can find in Greenvale…

Graphics

As for graphics The Good Life’s campaign page describe them as being both “Nostalgic and Modern” using low polygon models with simple textures but also making use of CG-esque atmospheric lighting, fog, shadows, and glare elements well.

The game does look rather simple but it still has a very distinct and unique look. I’ve always prefered a great story over great graphics so I don’t mind the game’s simple design in the slightest :) I do think the sheep are really adorable in this art style though!

Atmosphere

If all of the features above hasn’t already peaked your interest maybe the Fig campaign description of The Good Life’s atmosphere will do the trick:

“THE GOOD LIFE has intriguing elements inspired by Twin Peaks. It will also feature the old-timey British traditions seen in classic shows such as Downtown Abbey and Poirot. This is a Swery Game, so expect a healthy dosage of horror, mystery, humor and taboo topics that helped make Deadly Premonition such a cult hit. Our humor will reflect some of the elements from Hot Fuzz and other classic British comedies.”

Man it was already a give-in that I would be excited for The Good Life since I’m such a big fan of Deadly Premonition (and Twin Peaks) but I can also expect some Hot Fuzz style humor too?!

Guys, Hot Fuzz is one of my all-time favorite films ever so this comparison has me even more excited to play the game!

Hmm… Rainy Woods is described as the “Happiest Town in the World” with the “happiest people on the planet” which is pretty similar to the situation of Sandford always winning “Village of the Year” in Hot Fuzz…I wonder does Rainy Woods have an equivalent of the Neighborhood Watch Alliance?

Hey Naomi, if the townsfolk start chanting about things being “all for the greater good” I would make run for it!

The Developers

The Good Life will be the joint effort between three developers: Swery’s studio, White Owls, along with G-rounding and Camouflaj. Swery and his team will provide the creative and artistic direction for the game while G-rounding will manage the production and game creation and Camouflaj will provide both production support and supervision.

I really hope The Good Life’s Fig campaign is successful as it looks like a whole lot of fun. I’m eager to see how the game will come together and “enjoy my best life” in 2019

#deadly premonition #the good life #swery65 the good life #swery65

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dad-power · 7 years

Text

My Story, Part 4

Author’s note: None of this is meant to be mean or vindictive, but a true and accurate accounting of what has happened after My Story, Part 3. It’s been almost 6 years since I posted Parts 1-3.

Catherine’s mother and I have always had a decent relationship since she left two and a half years ago. We’ve been able to co-parent effectively and keep civil. I wouldn’t say we were friends, but we would send each other pics of our daughter, go to her birthday parties, chat frequently via text about her, etc. We got along great and as far as co-parenting, we were doing a lot better than most exes.

Imagine my surprise when, a few days before Christmas, I get served at work with a custody suit. She was going for full custody of my daughter plus child support.

Up until this point, for virtually our daughter’s entire life, we’ve shared custody. It’s been equal, 50/50 straight down the middle. The way it should be. Study after study shows it’s the best way for children to get through a separation. Except for cases of physical abuse, drug use, etc., I’m a huge believer in shared parenting. Why not?

Back when we were working on our parenting plan and had it nearly wrapped up, she said she was going to run it by her female attorney friend to dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s”. I begged her not to because I knew what would happen. Female divorce attorneys will not stop until you are living out of your car.

Meanwhile, I had been going through some financial troubles. My ex-wife takes a big chunk of my income in the form of child support. My salary is in the high 5 figures. With taxes, support, SS, and medical, a whopping half of my salary is gone before I see my check. This is what I am up against.

Money matters are not something you want to make public. But it wasn’t because of a drug-fueled spiral; I simply didn’t make enough to live on my own after everything was taken from my check. When I show people the numbers they all understand and are totally sympathetic to it. The numbers don’t lie. Most of them were surprised I wasn’t living out of my car.

She sent me an email explaining her reasoning. In a nutshell, she said I’m unfit to parent because I’ve run into financial difficulty. She also doesn’t like how I parent in general.

I begged over and over via text and email for her not to take any more support because it would put me in a worse situation than I already was. I asked her how taking this would be beneficial for Catherine. How would taking more of my income away with 3 kids benefit our daughter? Ironically, in her pleadings, it stated I wasn’t able to care for Catherine financially, but here she was, taking more money out of my paycheck. It didn’t make any sense. I was met with no reply to these questions, and finally, an email threatening harassment.

I’m a great dad. I don’t do drugs, I don’t stay up all night playing video games, I don’t party, I rarely drink. I have a steady, stable career and have only changed jobs twice in the last 20 years. I love my kids more than anything. They are my life. I just want to be left alone to raise them the best I can with the resources I need. I am not a crazy and unfit parent.

So now it probably looks like she has done a heroic thing: Rescuing her daughter from her horrible, drug-addled Daddy who can’t get his shit together. I am sure this is what everyone thinks. The reality is quite different. There are always two sides to a story.

A little history

Back in 2011, we met through my sister and had a fun, whirlwind relationship. Then she abruptly broke up with me after 4 months. No real reason, she just got tired of it and said we weren’t a good match.

There were no hard feelings, and since her job as a real estate agent wasn’t producing, I helped her get an internship at a major ad agency where I had worked for almost 10 years. Then she told me how she was flirting with the 70-year-old CFO of this agency several times and secured a full-time job there.

I thought it was strange that she was constantly coming by my desk chatting with me, and I was very close to telling her to leave me alone, but...

... one afternoon she came by my desk with a note that said she was pregnant. In all honesty, had no idea who the real father was because she had broken up with me, telling me to give her “space” and was hanging out with her ex-boyfriend, calling into question the paternity. She claimed it was mine and I believed her, but at the same time, her actions did not make me trust her much. I found her ex-BF’s contact lenses in her guest bathroom while we were “dating”, and there were several other odd occurrences like that. None of this is meant to be ugly, but it was happening and I had no idea what to think.

But we carried on as friends and I was glad she had a full-time job. At least she would have an income. Despite my instincts telling me to run away, I stayed friends with her. Despite my friends and coworkers advising me to tell her to go away, I stuck with her. I was not going to abandon her and our child.

We started getting closer, and paternity was established. We hung out every weekend at my house, working on the room for the baby, painting the crib, etc., and fell in love again. She asked me if she could move in. I did what I felt was the right thing and welcomed her into my home.

The time around Catherine’s birth was just amazing. Our relationship was better than it had ever been. I absolutely adored her and loved her more than life itself. Life was really good. I thought maybe it was going to turn out beautifully. It was magical, probably one of the best times of my life.

But when Catherine turned 2, she moved out. Then she came back 4 months later. When Catherine was 3, she moved out again, then came back again. Then after some counseling with our pastor, she said she couldn’t commit so I asked her to move out, which was the last time.

But that’s all in the past. She’s in a serious relationship now and they seem like a great match. It’s awesome and I’m truly happy for her. As long as he’s good with Catherine I’m fine with it.

Custody

The whole custody dispute was very hard on so many levels. After 2 years I was healing and moving on. The suit just ripped the scab open again. I wanted to continue our good co-parenting relationship for Catherine, but it was like a switch went off with her and she made it impossible to be civil. It was awful to see our relationship destroyed.

Normally, if an ex with whom you had an amicable split with and got along with is having financial problems—a person you loved, shared intimate moments with and raised a child with—you would most likely say, “What can I do to help? You’re her father and this affects her also. Let’s find you a decent place to live. Let me help you somehow.” There wasn't a huge event that broke us up, and even though it hurt me, it was fairly mutual in that we both knew it was pointless to continue. But nothing happened to create this sudden change in her.

But sadly, It was all scorched earth and horrendously ugly. I was immediately an adversary. I was unstable and unfit to parent. I had tried over and over to show her hard financial numbers but was ignored.

At one point during our negotiations, she told me she would never change her mind and threatened to give me the bare minimum time with Catherine if I didn’t agree to pay her child support.

According to my lawyer, she fired her first attorney for being too nice. She also forced me to take a drug test. I happily took a 14-panel test and passed it with flying colors.

I was prepared to go to trial and had a 90% chance of keeping our 50/50 schedule. Again, all I wanted was equal time. I wasn’t going for full custody. I just wanted to share equal time with her mother.

Several different attorneys advised me that status quo for 2 years and the mother’s history of moving out on us were my aces and would be hard to beat, but the judge ordered mediation at the cost of $1000 a day plus my attorney fees. That was it for me, the end of the road. I didn’t have the money. So I caved and signed the agreement. At this point I just wanted it to be over.

We were together for 4 years. I will never understand the hatefulness and the unwillingness to be reasonable, and the complete lack of empathy towards the father of her child. I will never understand how her heart could become so hardened that she would do something like this. When I have no money, I can’t do certain things with Catherine. That includes necessities. I don’t know why this is was and is so hard for her to understand. All I wanted was to be left alone to provide for my children and have financial security.

Looking Forward

The last 7 years of my life, I have been humbled, changed, refined. I am not the same person I was before. And for this I am thankful. I am choosing to go forward positively. I pray for her. This isn’t a self-righteous prayer, but a prayer that she is happy and successful. Because it does affect our daughter. I do pray for her heart to soften. I also pray for myself that I continue to stay humble and loving towards her. I do love her and want her to be happy.

I’m going to continue to be a great dad to my kids.

God wants us to TRUST in Him and REST in him. I’m choosing this path.

The other night I had Catherine on one side leaning against me, and Daniel leaning on the other side of me. Both of them adore me. My children love me. They know I’m a good father. That’s all that matters.

God will provide for me as he always has. I am getting back on my feet one day at a time. God is good.

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kangacav69 · 3 years

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Diy Raised Garden Beds Australia

Raised garden beds offer you and your garden a lot of benefits, but you might want to consider installing your garden bed on legs in order to offer yourself more flexibility and utility. Make the width no more than 1.2 metres across.

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Summer garden update when i started sharing about our new diy raised garden beds this summer on instagram, i would have never imagined that y’all would be as invested as i was!

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Raised corrugated iron or colorbond garden beds(picture above) are lightweight already put together in a ‘one piece’ construction. But there are so many ways that you can make your diy raised boxes, so let’s take a look at some different raised garden bed ideas. Winter is the best time to build a raised bed so it’s ready for planting in spring and it only takes a day.

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Raised beds are a good solution when the soil of a garden is less than ideal for growing. Due to the 2 boards that make up the height of the bed, it really eases all the back problems associated with gardening. Check out our range of raised garden beds products at your local bunnings warehouse.

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But the most crucial one is you can grow a garden even in a contained soil area. Cheap raised garden beds you can diy. If you don’t have the time or the space to cater to a large garden, you can still have the gratifying garden you’ve always dreamed of having.raised garden beds are the shortcut to a plentiful supply of fresh fruits and veggies, even in the first year.

One of our huge undertakings for our 2018 vegetable garden was building brand new galvanized steel raised garden beds. Compass tanks steel flower herb and vegetable garden beds. So lets grab some lumber and your tools, and let’s get to building these cheap raised garden beds.

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90dayableton · 4 years

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Learning Ableton: Day 1 vs Day 2 Results

Having never used Ableton software or any serious DAW before, I embark on a 90 day journey to see how much I can learn - and how much music I can make - before my free trial expires.

So, on Day 1, I made a song. It’s quite short - slow - chill. Chord progressions and melodic cues were inspired by an old jrock song by dir en grey (ain’t afraid to die). It ended abruptly. I didn’t edit or mix or master it (I don’t totally grok/feel comfortable with the lingo yet so I don’t know whether some words apply in certain contexts but not others). It was the result of one evening and one day learning my way around Ableton and trying to make the best thing I could. And it is totally shamelessly derivative of a song I used to like in high school.

On Day 2, I spent a good amount of time extending and improving the piece. Here’s a breakdown of what I did over the course of two days.

DAY ONE

This song is composed of 14 “tracks,” color-coordinated along the side. I’ve hidden one & two because they’re just basic midi + audio tracks which are currently muted and functioning as storage for a couple of samples.

Give it a listen here: Day One Results

Three: Ambient Piano/Bright Tines

This is my name for the “Bright Tines” piano available in the instrument rack.

I started with this instrument right from the start: the main chords and immediate melodic refrain (moving between the E, F#, and B) were given to the piano. I later doubled it (and harmonized it very slightly) with the track 2 instrument.

I recorded this using my computer keyboard as the midi keyboard, and then edited and refined certain rhythms and notes using the draw mode.

Four: Nylon Guitar

I didn’t record this separately; I only copied+pasted the midi clip from the Piano track, and edited certain notes as I desired.

I did think to name the guitar and piano clip variations, which do have slightly distinct differences between A, B, and AB...though I wasn’t always consistent with naming things throughout this, as you can probably see.

Measures 1 - 8: Intro

Piano + Guitar play together, an eight measure sequence that repeats several times throughout the piece.

Five: Bass

This is “Hip-Hop Sub Bass” in Ableton.

I basically just clicked around the bass options until I found one that sounded good with what I already had. I made a VERY basic bass line. It literally just moves between D and C#.

Seven: Snare/Percussion

I probably should have divided these drum samples up among a couple tracks instead of putting them all on one, but...this is how it turned out.

I made a basic rhythm pretty organically...I grabbed a bunch of samples of different things that I thought I might need (search: kick, hi hat, tom, snare for starters, plus a woodblock just ‘cause I wanted one), dumped them in one track, and then moved them around and shuffled them and put them in a pattern and played them both with and without the other instruments to listen for what sounded good.

My basic beat is composed of: a kick, a woodblock, a snare, a different kick - then a hi-hat, a third and different kick, the same woodblock, and the same snare.

When building to a new or exciting moment (or when the percussion makes its entrance) I made a little “snare woodblock snare woodblock woodblock kick snare”.

To mix it up, sometimes the phrase ends with a “woodblocksnare woodblocksnare”. And I throw in a triangle and a wood vibraslap in the middle.

I did end up switching out some kicks and snares with different ones that sounded better. It’s a continual process! Even after one decision is made, you might pivot after adding new elements.

Measures 9 - 16:

Piano + Guitar repeat, with slight variation.

Bass enters.

Percussion enters midway through measure 8, pickup to measure 9; plays variation at end of measure 16.

Ten: Grand Piano

This li’l guy plays some rolling chords to fill out the sound and, at the very end, a small musical motif.

Measures 17 - 24:

Piano + Guitar repeat, with variation.

Bass continues. Percussion continues.

Grand Piano enters and plays rolling chords.

Six: Shamisen

The shamisen enters in measure 25, introducing a new musical phrase which is repeated and doubled later by other instruments. It also doubles the horn motif from measure 55-56 at the very end of the piece.

Eight: Chimes

We hear the chimes in measures 25 and 33. I wanted them to play only a few times so it didn’t get tiring to hear.

Measures 25 - 32:

Piano + Guitar mixing up their variations to play off each other.

Bass continues. Grand Piano rolling chords continues.

Shamisen enters along with chimes.

Percussion continues, but it is silent for the last measure (32) to allow other things to ring out.

Thirteen: Vibes

The vibes and bottle blower only play twice, and they both play at the same time: once right in the middle when everything is getting textured, and once right at the end for an ethereal sound.

Vibes just double the ambient piano track for an extra little something...kind of a chiming-synth sound.

Fourteen: Bottle Blower

I chose this instrument on a whim. I thought it just sounded cool. I took the midi track from the ambient piano and stripped away the high notes, keeping only basic chords (and adding a new bass note at the root of the chord that descended - D F# G E and ends on G).

Measures 33 - 40:

Grand Piano rolling chords drop out.

Piano + Guitar continue mixing variations.

Bass and shamisen continue. Chimes play again.

Percussion re-enters, and plays variation at the end of the section.

Two new instruments enter: “Vibes” and Bottle Blower.

Nine: Brushed Bells

When I first wrote the bells in, I added them after the shamisen dropped out. Then I decided to put them in even earlier to double the shamisen before they go off on their own little doubletime variation.

Measures 41 - 48:

Piano + Guitar drop out. Vibes + Bottle Blower drop out.

Grand Piano re-enters with rolling chords.

Bass continues. Shamisen continues.

New instrument Brushed Bells enters, doubling the shamisen.

Percussion continues, with variation at the end.

Eleven: Yakiman Kit/Percussion

I wanted to switch up the percussion, so I had the old track (seven) drop out and replaced it with a Yakiman drum kit. I noodled around with the midi computer keyboard until I had a combination I liked (Kick Drum Case, Snare 707, and Hihat Closed Modular) with a decent rhythm.

Measures 49 - 52 (4 measure section)

Bass and shamisen drop out. Grand piano drops out.

Percussion drops out, and plays one riff only at the end.

Different percussion (”Yakiman Kit”) takes over.

Bells create melodic transition, playing similar motif at double speed.

Twelve: Soft Horn

I wanted a slightly different horn sound, but I did get attached to this one over repeated listens. I wanted an instrument that could approximate the timbre of human vocals because I wanted to capture something extra with that one melodic riff (taken from the lead vocals of the original song).

The horns only play once, but the shamisen does repeat their riff at the very end.

Measures 53 - 60:

Piano (ambient/bright tines, not grand piano) comes back in, with 4-note chords instead of the alternating ones it played before.

Bass re-enters.

Yakiman percussion continues on, with original percussion only playing one little riff at the end.

The Bells continue with a variation that doubles one octave lower.

New instruments: Horns play a lick from 55-56, and shamisen repeats it from 59-60.

Grand piano comes back in with a little musical cue.

Measures 61-68: Outro

All instruments drop out.

The “Vibes” + Bottle Blower re-enter to play the last eight measures together, repeating the original intro.

DAY TWO

Listen to the song here: Day Two Results

IN A NUTSHELL

I changed the order of a few instruments and laid out their entrances/intro differently.

I reduced the individual track volumes until my master mix was NOT in the red.

I doubled most of the important tracks and panned them. (This basically means: virtually staging them by making it sound like they are occupying different positions in 3-dimensional space relative to your ears. You accomplish this by moving the slider on the right side of the tracks that by default says “C” but can range from 50L-50R. i.e. left to right panning, or center.) I think my panning could DEFINITELY be improved but hey, I’m learning. My ear will get better for discerning what good panning sounds like.

I cleaned up some rhythms that weren’t hitting right or weren’t in sync. (There’s actually still a few that need work...but the most obvious ones are fixed. I didn’t mind preserving a little of the “human” sound of playing...i.e. the human errors.)

I added an auto-pan filter to the chimes to make them pass back and forth between L and R ears for an interesting effect.

I changed a few chords and passing notes in the way that they moved from loop to loop. (Not totally satisfied with them all, actually...I think there’s a few relationships between the “Ambient Piano” and “Nylon Guitar” chords that I want to change.)

I added a second bassline after the transition, which was the foundation that helped me extend it a little bit, and brought back the original drumline.

I added a few more “instrument cues” - little melodic parts where they cut in for just a measure or so - like another horn part and the ‘crunchy piano’ on track 27.

I filled out the “bells” instrumental track, adding another section to raise one part an octave higher.

I combined a few parts that hadn’t played together (like shamisen + bells which was basically shamisen melody at doublespeed) with additional instrument cues for a chill climactic finale.

I gave the outro to the grand piano for more of a classic acoustic feel (previously it was “vibes” + “bottle blower” which sounded very ethereal, but I moved the timing to keep the bottle blower at the climax and didn’t want to repeat it after).

The first version of the song was 68 measures (at 75 bpm). The second version became 82 measures long.

#90daysofableton #90dayableton #ableton #daw #digital audio workstation #my workspace #music composition #music production #song structure #my process #day one #day two #dir en grey

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olivereliott · 5 years

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Review: Harley-Davidson’s electric LiveWire

Right now, it’s hard to judge Harley-Davidson’s tactics without framing them against the stiff challenges the company is facing. If it’s not tariff wars, it’s the reality of an aging demographic. And then there’s same struggle every other manufacturer has in the USA: reaching new riders.

But in the midst of this, the Motor Company has just delivered on one of its biggest and boldest promises: launching an electric motorcycle. And the LiveWire means that Harley-Davidson is the first major OEM to release a battery-powered sports bike.

The LiveWire is unlike anything else on the market. On one hand, it’s an electric vehicle from a company that built its heritage on petrol-powered V-twins. On the other, it’s a focused and fast naked from a company that normally builds cruisers.

It seems like an eccentric move, but it’s calculated. Harley say they want to ‘build riders’ rather than ‘build motorcycles’—and the company execs see electric motorcycles as an avenue to reach new customers. And let’s not forget the rumors of some countries planning to ban petrol-powered vehicles. Any company not looking into electric power is going to be caught napping.

Harley is not betting the whole farm on the LiveWire though. It’s a halo product: the top end of a entire range of electric vehicles to be released over the next few years. (We’ve already caught a glimpse of some of the smaller concepts they’re toying with.)

So is the first Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle a hit or a miss? I traveled to the famously weird city of Portland, Oregon to find out.

Available in orange, yellow or black, the LiveWire is a striking machine in the flesh, and visually unlike anything else from the Bar and Shield. Other than a few subtle hints of the XR750 in the tank and tail lines, there’s really not much in the styling that ties it to the Street Glides that sell by the truckload in Middle America.

From the wraparound aluminum frame, to the mono-shock swing arm and aggressive stance, it’s the sort of sporty standard that many people have been waiting a really long time for Harley-Davidson to build.

Even though there’s no chunky V-twin here, the LiveWire’s designers still wanted to make the motor a focal point of the design. They’ve named it ‘Revolution,’ and finished it in silver to distinguish it from the rest of the components.

It makes 105 horsepower, and 116 Nm of torque, everywhere in the rev range. H-D claims it does the sprint to 60 mph in three seconds, 60-80 mph in 1.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 110 mph. The primary drive uses a spiral bevel gear, with a belt sending power to the back wheel.

Juice comes from a 15.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery with a five year unlimited mileage warranty. Range is quoted at 146 miles (235 km) in the city, or 95 miles (152 km) of combined stop-and-go and highway riding.

Hiding under the LiveWire’s faux gas cap are two charge ports: one for a regular wall charger, and one for DC fast charging. The regular wall charger cable is tucked away under the seat, and gives you a full charge in 12.5 hours, while DC fast charging should have the bike fully charged in an hour (those figures haven’t been verified yet).

This setup carries a hefty weight penalty though. The LiveWire sits at 549 pounds (249 kg), and one of Harley’s engineers told me that roughly seventy percent of that is the battery and motor. For the rest, H-D has used surprisingly light parts—like a modular cast aluminum frame that wraps around the battery, using it as a stressed member.

The frame’s actually constructed of multiple pieces, with a separate steering head, and left and right sections. That modular design is everywhere on the LiveWire; the subframe’s easily removable too, and all the electrical components are very neatly tucked under the ‘tank.’ So customization should be a cinch—as should adapting the LiveWire platform for different applications.

Fit and finish are impressive too. There’s not a single messy weld in sight, or a single part that looks out of place. The bodywork is all plastic, but it doesn’t look or feel dinky. All the lights are LED, and there’s hardly any visible cabling or plumbing.

There are a few bits to nitpick though. While the seat is nicely shaped, the upholstery between the rider and passenger pads (and the grab strap), is misaligned and wobbly. And even though the upholstered section just behind the ‘tank’ serves an ergonomic purpose, it reminds me too much of the leather tank covers you see on cruisers.

Up in the cockpit, all the wiring runs inside the handlebars—so the spindly wires running into the turn signals stick out like sore thumbs. The LiveWire uses the exact same switchgear design as the rest of Harley’s range, which is OK, since it works well and feels solid. But it also uses the same mirrors and grips as every other Harley, including the ubiquitous Sportster—and I’m not sure I’m cool with that.

Minor gripes aside, the LiveWire is an attractive motorcycle, electric or not. And it’s running some serious hardware too. There’s fully adjustable Showa suspension at both ends, and Brembo brakes with twin 300 mm discs up front. The tires are 17” Michelin Scorchers—120 mm wide up front, and 180 mm out back.

H-D has also packed a substantial amount of functionality into the LiveWire’s TFT display. Speed and battery charge take center stage, but ‘widgets’ on either side let you flick through everything from distance and running temperatures, to how much battery power’s being used under acceleration and deceleration.

It’s a touch screen unit, which is useful for diving into the menus and changing settings without having to fiddle with buttons. It’s a small unit though, and even though it’s really clear in varying light conditions, the widget areas feel cramped.

The LiveWire also integrates with your smartphone via a proprietary app. The app gives you the bike’s vitals, shows you where the nearest charging station is, and even sends you a push notification when someone tries to tamper with it. You can also call up navigation via your phone, with turn-by-turn instructions popping up on the display. And you can flick through music, by adding a Bluetooth helmet system into the mix.

Unfortunately the bikes we rode at the launch were pre-production units, which meant a lot of that functionality was missing. (It also meant that I had an occasional gremlin when starting my bike.)

The LiveWire’s start sequence is bizarrely uneventful. You flick the kill switch and make sure the side stand is up, then hold down the start button until a pair of yellow LED strips on either side of the dash turn green. The drive system is now active and ready to go, without as much as a burp.

H-D have built a haptic feedback feature into the motor, which basically just generates a intermittent throb to let you know the bike is ‘on.’ It’s a great idea, but the effect is far too vague, and actually sort of off-putting. With a little refinement, it could actually be a really neat feature, but I just couldn’t gel with it.

Pulling away is pretty trippy too. With no clutch or gears to engage, rolling on the throttle is all it takes to get moving. It took me a little while to acclimatize to the throttle’s pickup, but ultimately it’s a very smooth system, and if you whack it wide open, the surge of power really is quite thrilling.

H-D has clearly spent time getting the LiveWire’s engine mapping right. There’s a regenerative braking system too (which effectively regenerates energy as you close the throttle), and it feels a lot like normal engine braking.

There’s also a full complement of rider aids, including cornering ABS, rear-lift mitigation to keep the rear wheel planted during heavy braking, traction control, and an anti-slip system to prevent rear wheel lock under regenerative braking.

There are seven rider modes on board—four presets, and three that are customizable—and each determines the level available power, plus regenerative braking, throttle response and traction control. And there’s a separate switch to disable traction control altogether.

The preset modes are pretty self-explanatory: Sport, Road, Rain and Range. ‘Road’ mode is probably the best, offering smooth performance for day-to-day riding. ‘Sport’ mode opens the LiveWire up for more enthusiastic riding—but that also means the throttle is a little snatchier, and the ‘engine braking’ a little harder.

Our riding route took us from within Portland’s city limits, into the rolling forest-lined hills of the Pacific Northwest. Harley has pegged the LiveWire as a city bike, but it’s one hella good canyon-carver too.

For starters, the ergonomics are damn near perfect. From the upswept bars, to the rear-set pegs and comfy seat, it’s the setup that bikes like the H-D Street Road and Roadster should have come out with. You’re upright enough for good visibility in the city, tucked enough for quicker rides, and there’s ample leverage to push in and out of corners.

The PNW offered up some sweet corner sequences, and hustling the LiveWire through them was buckets of fun. That’s partly because it handles so well, and because those Showas do a good job of holding a line, while also soaking up unexpectedly bumpy sections of road.

But it’s also because there’s no clutch or transmission to fuss with, and no need to keep it at the right RPM. With excellent modulation from those Brembos, I found myself braking deep into corners, pitching the LiveWire over, and then seamlessly rolling on the throttle to launch it out the other side. Within minutes, utilizing the smooth characteristics of the electric drivetrain had become second nature.

You’re shifting a lot of weight around though, so I’d call the LiveWire surefooted rather than nimble. And with the slightly more aggressive throttle response (and regenerative braking) in Sport mode, pushing it hard did tire me out after a while.

There wasn’t much open road to test any top speed claims, but I did manage a ton at least once (anything north of 100 was a strain). And the eerie whir from the motor while pinning it between forests instantly ticked my Star Wars Land Speeder boxes.

We got stuck in traffic the second we headed back into town, but again, the lack of a clutch or gearbox made crawling from light to light less painful. And unlike the combustion Harleys that were riding with us, there was no niggling heat build up from an exhaust or motor. I did notice the LiveWire’s weight again in really slow maneuvers, but at rolling pace it was less of an issue.

I left South Africa hoping deeply that the LiveWire wouldn’t suck—and it truly exceeded my expectations. It’s not only a solid electric motorcycle, but also a sport naked with whip-cracking acceleration and respectable handling.

The only thing holding the LiveWire back could be its price. At $ 29,799 it’s not cheap, and the Zero SR/F in full spec trim offers more performance and range, for around $9,000 less.

But then again, none of the specialist electric motorcycle brands have the dealer network that Harley-Davidson does. The LiveWire’s set to hit 250 North American and European showrooms in September, each with a DC fast charging station and two years of free charges.

I’m not sure how I feel about the range either, but ultimately my opinion of the price and range matters a lot less than individual use case scenarios. Those numbers may be bitter pills to swallow for some riders, but for others, the chance to own a premium electric motorcycle from a major manufacturer just might outweigh the drawbacks. And whether range and charging are issues or not, depends entirely on your lifestyle.

There’s a perception that LiveWire sales will make or break Harley-Davidson’s future, but I don’t think that’s true at all. Halo products exist to juice up a brand, push their engineering departments to their limits and shatter perceptions.

The LiveWire has done just that, and has me excited for whatever Milwaukee has in the pipeline next.

Harley-Davidson | Facebook | Instagram | Images by H-D and Alessio Barbanti

Wes’ gear ICON 1000 Airform helmet | ICON 1000 Nightbreed jacket | ICON 1000 Nightbreed gloves | Saint Unbreakable stretch denims | Merlin x Urban Rider Onyx riding trainers

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aaronsniderus · 5 years

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An Anxious Investor’s Guide to the Stock Market

Investment planning can be riddled with unanswered questions, unknowable returns and a general uneasiness around the decisions you make, all of which have a big impact on your state of mind. In one study, more than a third of Americans admitted that “recent [stock market] volatility is making them anxious about their nest egg.” And a study from 2014 that analyzed 30 years of California hospital admission records found a nearly immediate bump in hospitalizations following stock market drops, particularly of people experiencing anxiety, depression or other emotional stress.

“There’s a huge emotional component to taking responsibility for making your own investments,” said Maggie Baker, Ph.D., a psychologist and financial therapist in the Philadelphia area. “And you’re dealing with the markets, where there are so many variables that you have no control over, so it creates uncertainty.”

While it’s easy to let investing stress you out, being involved in the stock market is one of the keys to building wealth. Here are some pointers for keeping your anxiety at bay:

How to manage the market as an anxious investor

Work with a professional. You could also consider joining an investment club. “Some people pride themselves on being able to do it alone, and I think they’re the ones who are at the greater risk of both anxiety and making mistakes, because they don’t have anybody to bounce their ideas off of,” Baker said, adding that working with a broker, financial advisor or club opens you up to crucial feedback about your decisions. Deciding whether or not to hire a financial advisor will take a bit of upfront work, but the peace of mind you’ll get from having someone else help with your investment decisions may well be worth it.

Diversify your portfolio. Diversification — holding a variety of investments instead of concentrating your money in one industry or type of equity — is one of the keys to investor success, since it insulates you against big market dips. When one part of the market dives, another part tends to go up, and you land somewhere in the middle. Diversification can give you peace of mind when the market has wild swings. “That’s a good protection against volatility,” Baker said.

Make a plan for your holdings. Making spontaneous decisions about your investments is a great way to invite stress into your life. Instead, create clear boundaries (i.e. sell when the stock price drops to $30) so you know exactly when to make a move. “Thinking about those things ahead of time is a much healthier way to [navigate the market] than to be swayed by the impulse and the feelings of the moment,” said Amanda Clayman, LCSW, a financial therapist in Los Angeles.

Understand that your feelings are fleeting. In other words, don’t get panicked by your panic. And maybe take a deep breath. “Feelings can be very intense, particularly when your own money is at risk,” Baker said. “You have to learn that feelings come and go.” Baker suggested that a calming response that works best for you, like meditative breath work, for example, can help you counteract your anxiety.

View market swings as opportunities. If you’re investing regularly — via a 401(k) contribution, for instance, or via regular timed deposits — a market dip is a great thing for you. “A market tank is like a sale,” said Eric Dammann, Ph.D., a financial therapist and clinical psychologist in New York City. “It means that things are cheap, [so] you’re going to get stuff at a bargain basement price.” So, instead of thinking “My stocks went down,” try flipping the script to “This means stocks are on sale now” — as Dammann suggested, that little cognitive trick can help you feel less anxious about your own investments.

Habits to avoid

Don’t look at your portfolio every day. It’s the stock market, so there are going to be fluctuations — that’s normal and expected. But watching your investments lose and gain can mess with your head. Noted Dammann: “Unless you’re a day trader, why are you looking at stocks every day? It’s useless.” Plan to check in with your portfolio quarterly and put a reminder in your calendar. Unless you’re scheduled to take a peek at your portfolio, just leave it alone.

Don’t act on your feelings right away. If you’re a compulsive portfolio checker, you may also be quick to make decisions based on what you find. Be mindful of taking a long pause before you do anything with your investments, because when the stock market tumbles, it triggers your “reptilian brain,” Dammann said. “It literally triggers the panic center. This is the wrong time to sell. If you pause long enough, you’ll bring your more intelligent side in.” In concrete terms, that means you should sleep on any investment decisions, or call a neutral friend or your financial planner before doing anything.

Don’t watch the news during market dives. Today it’s possible to watch bad news 24/7. But if you’re invested for the long term — and that’s the idea, right? — today’s market swing isn’t a big deal and watching a steady stream of commentary on it can crank up your blood pressure. “When there is a 500-point drop in the market, everybody goes bananas because you’re getting bombarded with information that the sky is falling,” Dammann said. “That’s going to trigger the fight or flight reaction.” If you have an investing plan in place, stick with the plan — and turn off the news.

The bottom line

Although you can’t eliminate all of the anxiety from investing, you can take steps to make it less of a presence in your life. Stepping away from daily portfolio checks and a steady stream of investment news can help. It can also ease your mind to know you have a plan for your portfolio, that you’re diversified, and that market dips don’t have to spell disaster. The more structure you can put in place for yourself — giving yourself space to calm your anxiety and time before you make decisions — the more in control you’ll feel.

This article contains links to MagnifyMoney, an affiliate of LendingTree, our parent company.

Interested in refinancing student loans? Here are the top 6 lenders of 2019!

LenderVariable APREligible Degrees Check out the testimonials and our in-depth reviews! 1 Important Disclosures for SoFi. SoFi Disclosures Student loan Refinance:

Fixed rates from 3.890% APR to 8.074% APR (with AutoPay). Variable rates from 2.500% APR to 7.115% APR (with AutoPay). Interest rates on variable rate loans are capped at either 8.95% or 9.95% depending on term of loan. See APR examples and terms. Lowest variable rate of 2.500% APR assumes current 1 month LIBOR rate of 2.50% plus 0.00% margin minus 0.25% ACH discount. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. If approved for a loan, the fixed or variable interest rate offered will depend on your creditworthiness, and the term of the loan and other factors, and will be within the ranges of rates listed above. For the SoFi variable rate loan, the 1-month LIBOR index will adjust monthly and the loan payment will be re-amortized and may change monthly. APRs for variable rate loans may increase after origination if the LIBOR index increases. See eligibility details. The SoFi 0.25% AutoPay interest rate reduction requires you to agree to make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic monthly deduction from a savings or checking account. The benefit will discontinue and be lost for periods in which you do not pay by automatic deduction from a savings or checking account. *To check the rates and terms you qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit inquiry. Unlike hard credit inquiries, soft credit inquiries (or soft credit pulls) do not impact your credit score. Soft credit inquiries allow SoFi to show you what rates and terms SoFi can offer you up front. After seeing your rates, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit inquiry. Hard credit inquiries (or hard credit pulls) are required for SoFi to be able to issue you a loan. In addition to requiring your explicit permission, these credit pulls may impact your credit score.

Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) 2 Important Disclosures for Earnest. Earnest Disclosures

To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen or possess a 10-year (non-conditional) Permanent Resident Card, reside in a state Earnest lends in, and satisfy our minimum eligibility criteria. You may find more information on loan eligibility here: https://www.earnest.com/eligibility. Not all applicants will be approved for a loan, and not all applicants will qualify for the lowest rate. Approval and interest rate depend on the review of a complete application.

Earnest fixed rate loan rates range from 3.89% APR (with Auto Pay) to 7.89% APR (with Auto Pay). Variable rate loan rates range from 2.50% APR (with Auto Pay) to 7.27% APR (with Auto Pay). For variable rate loans, although the interest rate will vary after you are approved, the interest rate will never exceed 8.95% for loan terms 10 years or less. For loan terms of 10 years to 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 9.95%. For loan terms over 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 11.95% (the maximum rates for these loans). Earnest variable interest rate loans are based on a publicly available index, the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Your rate will be calculated each month by adding a margin between 1.82% and 5.50% to the one month LIBOR. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Earnest rate ranges are current as of April 17, 2019, and are subject to change based on market conditions and borrower eligibility.

Auto Pay discount: If you make monthly principal and interest payments by an automatic, monthly deduction from a savings or checking account, your rate will be reduced by one quarter of one percent (0.25%) for so long as you continue to make automatic, electronic monthly payments. This benefit is suspended during periods of deferment and forbearance.

The information provided on this page is updated as of 04/17/2019. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice. Earnest loans are originated by Earnest Operations LLC. California Finance Lender License 6054788. NMLS # 1204917. Earnest Operations LLC is located at 302 2nd Street, Suite 401N, San Francisco, CA 94107. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://www.earnest.com/terms-of-service, email us at [email protected], or call 888-601-2801 for more information on our student loan refinance product.

3 Important Disclosures for Laurel Road. Laurel Road Disclosures

FIXED APR Fixed rate options consist of a range from 3.75% per year to 5.80% per year for a 5-year term, 4.25% per year to 6.25% per year for a 7-year term, 4.55% per year to 6.65% per year for a 10-year term, 4.85% per year to 7.05% per year for a 15-year term, or 5.30% per year to 7.27% per year for a 20-year term, with no origination fees. The fixed interest rate will apply until the loan is paid in full (whether before or after default, and whether before or after the scheduled maturity date of the loan). The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 3.75% per year to 5.80% per year for a 5-year term would be from $183.04 to $192.40. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.25% per year to 6.25% per year for a 7-year term would be from $137.84 to $147.29. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.55% per year to 6.65% per year for a 10-year term would be from $103.88 to $114.31. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.85% per year to 7.05% per year for a 15-year term would be from $78.30 to $90.16. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 5.30% per year to 7.27% per year for a 20-year term would be from $67.66 to $79.16.

However, if the borrower chooses to make monthly payments automatically by electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a bank account, the fixed rate will decrease by 0.25%, and will increase back up to the regular fixed interest rate described in the preceding paragraph if the borrower stops making (or we stop accepting) monthly payments automatically by EFT from the designated borrower’s bank account.

VARIABLE APR Variable rate options consist of a range from 2.75% per year to 6.30% per year for a 5-year term, 4.00% per year to 6.35% per year for a 7-year term, 4.25% per year to 6.40% per year for a 10-year term, 4.50% per year to 6.65% per year for a 15-year term, or 4.75% per year to 6.90% per year for a 20-year term, with no origination fees. APR is subject to increase after consummation. The variable interest rate will change on the first day of every month (“Change Date”) if the Current Index changes. The variable interest rates are based on a Current Index, which is the 1-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) (currency in US dollars), as published on The Wall Street Journal’s website. The variable interest rates and Annual Percentage Rate (APR) will increase or decrease when the 1-month LIBOR index changes. The variable interest rates are calculated by adding a margin ranging from 0.25% to 3.80% for the 5-year term loan, 1.50% to 3.85% for the 7-year term loan, 1.75% to 3.90% for the 10-year term loan, 2.00% to 4.15% for the 15-year term loan, and 2.25% to 4.40% for the 20-year term loan, respectively, to the 1-month LIBOR index published on the 25th day of each month immediately preceding each “Change Date,” as defined above, rounded to two decimal places, with no origination fees. If the 25th day of the month is not a business day or is a US federal holiday, the reference date will be the most recent date preceding the 25th day of the month that is a business day. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 2.75% per year to 6.30% per year for a 5-year term would be from $178.58 to $194.73. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.00% per year to 6.35% per year for a 7-year term would be from $136.69 to $147.77. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.25% per year to 6.40% per year for a 10-year term would be from $102.44 to $113.04. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.50% per year to 6.65% per year for a 15-year term would be from $76.50 to $87.94. The monthly payment for a sample $10,000 loan at a range of 4.75% per year to 6.90% per year for a 20-year term would be from $64.62 to $76.93.

However, if the borrower chooses to make monthly payments automatically by electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a bank account, the variable rate will decrease by 0.25%, and will increase back up to the regular variable interest rate described in the preceding paragraph if the borrower stops making (or we stop accepting) monthly payments automatically by EFT from the designated borrower’s bank account.

All credit products are subject to credit approval.

Laurel Road began originating student loans in 2013 and has since helped thousands of professionals with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees consolidate and refinance more than $4 billion in federal and private school loans. Laurel Road also offers a suite of online graduate school loan products and personal loans that help simplify lending through customized technology and personalized service. In April 2019, Laurel Road was acquired by KeyBank, one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies. Laurel Road is a brand of KeyBank National Association offering online lending products in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. All loans are provided by KeyBank National Association, a nationally chartered bank. Member FDIC. For more information, visit www.laurelroad.com.

4 Important Disclosures for LendKey. LendKey Disclosures

Refinancing via LendKey.com is only available for applicants with qualified private education loans from an eligible institution. Loans that were used for exam preparation classes, including, but not limited to, loans for LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE preparation, are not eligible for refinancing with a lender via LendKey.com. If you currently have any of these exam preparation loans, you should not include them in an application to refinance your student loans on this website. Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents in an eligible state to qualify for a loan. Certain membership requirements (including the opening of a share account and any applicable association fees in connection with membership) may apply in the event that an applicant wishes to accept a loan offer from a credit union lender. Lenders participating on LendKey.com reserve the right to modify or discontinue the products, terms, and benefits offered on this website at any time without notice. LendKey Technologies, Inc. is not affiliated with, nor does it endorse, any educational institution.

5 Important Disclosures for CommonBond. CommonBond Disclosures

Offered terms are subject to change. Loans are offered by CommonBond Lending, LLC (NMLS # 1175900). If you are approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your credit profile, your application, the loan term selected and will be within the ranges of rates shown.

All Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed assume borrowers enroll in auto pay and account for the 0.25% reduction in interest rate. All variable rates are based on a 1-month LIBOR assumption of 2.49% effective March 10, 2019.

6 Important Disclosures for Citizens Bank. Citizens Bank Disclosures Education Refinance Loan Rate Disclosure: Variable rate, based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) published in The Wall Street Journal on the twenty-fifth day, or the next business day, of the preceding calendar month. As of April 1, 2019, the one-month LIBOR rate is 2.50%. Variable interest rates range from 3.00% – 9.74% (3.00% – 9.74% APR) and will fluctuate over the term of the borrower’s loan with changes in the LIBOR rate, and will vary based on applicable terms, level of degree earned and presence of a co-signer. Fixed interest rates range from 3.89% – 9.99% (3.89% – 9.99% APR) based on applicable terms, level of degree earned and presence of a co-signer. Lowest rates shown are for eligible, creditworthy applicants with a graduate level degree, require a 5-year repayment term and include our Loyalty discount and Automatic Payment discounts of 0.25 percentage points each, as outlined in the Loyalty and Automatic Payment Discount disclosures. The maximum variable rate on the Education Refinance Loan is the greater of 21.00% or Prime Rate plus 9.00%. Subject to additional terms and conditions, and rates are subject to change at any time without notice. Such changes will only apply to applications taken after the effective date of change. Please note: Due to federal regulations, Citizens Bank is required to provide every potential borrower with disclosure information before they apply for a private student loan. The borrower will be presented with an Application Disclosure and an Approval Disclosure within the application process before they accept the terms and conditions of their loan. Federal Loan vs. Private Loan Benefits: Some federal student loans include unique benefits that the borrower may not receive with a private student loan, some of which we do not offer with the Education Refinance Loan. Borrowers should carefully review their current benefits, especially if they work in public service, are in the military, are currently on or considering income based repayment options or are concerned about a steady source of future income and would want to lower their payments at some time in the future. When the borrower refinances, they waive any current and potential future benefits of their federal loans and replace those with the benefits of the Education Refinance Loan. For more information about federal student loan benefits and federal loan consolidation, visit http://studentaid.ed.gov/. We also have several resources available to help the borrower make a decision at http://www.citizensbank.com/EdRefinance, including Should I Refinance My Student Loans? and our FAQs. Should I Refinance My Student Loans? includes a comparison of federal and private student loan benefits that we encourage the borrower to review. Citizens Bank Education Refinance Loan Eligibility: Eligible applicants may not be currently enrolled. Applicants with an Associate’s degree or with no degree must have made at least 12 qualifying payments after leaving school. Qualifying payments are the most recent on time and consecutive payments of principal and interest on the loans being refinanced. Primary borrowers must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or resident alien with a valid U.S. Social Security Number residing in the United States. Resident aliens must apply with a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The co-signer (if applicable) must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a valid U.S. Social Security Number residing in the United States. For applicants who have not attained the age of majority in their state of residence, a co-signer will be required. Citizens Bank reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at anytime. Interest rate ranges subject to change. Education Refinance Loans are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application/consumer credit agreement, verification of application information, certification of borrower’s student loan amount(s) and highest degree earned. Loyalty Discount Disclosure: The borrower will be eligible for a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their loan if the borrower or their co-signer (if applicable) has a qualifying account in existence with us at the time the borrower and their co-signer (if applicable) have submitted a completed application authorizing us to review their credit request for the loan. The following are qualifying accounts: any checking account, savings account, money market account, certificate of deposit, automobile loan, home equity loan, home equity line of credit, mortgage, credit card account, or other student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. Please note, our checking and savings account options are only available in the following states: CT, DE, MA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, and VT and some products may have an associated cost. This discount will be reflected in the interest rate disclosed in the Loan Approval Disclosure that will be provided to the borrower once the loan is approved. Limit of one Loyalty Discount per loan and discount will not be applied to prior loans. The Loyalty Discount will remain in effect for the life of the loan. Automatic Payment Discount Disclosure: Borrowers will be eligible to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction on their student loans owned by Citizens Bank, N.A. during such time as payments are required to be made and our loan servicer is authorized to automatically deduct payments each month from any bank account the borrower designates. Discount is not available when payments are not due, such as during forbearance. If our loan servicer is unable to successfully withdraw the automatic deductions from the designated account three or more times within any 12-month period, the borrower will no longer be eligible for this discount. Co-signer Release: Borrowers may apply for co-signer release after making 36 consecutive on-time payments of principal and interest. For the purpose of the application for co-signer release, on-time payments are defined as payments received within 15 days of the due date. Interest only payments do not qualify. The borrower must meet certain credit and eligibility guidelines when applying for the co-signer release. Borrowers must complete an application for release and provide income verification documents as part of the review. Borrowers who use deferment or forbearance will need to make 36 consecutive on-time payments after reentering repayment to qualify for release. The borrower applying for co-signer release must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If an application for co-signer release is denied, the borrower may not reapply for co-signer release until at least one year from the date the application for co-signer release was received. Terms and conditions apply. Borrowers whose loans were funded prior to reaching the age of majority may not be eligible for co-signer release. Note: co-signer release is not available on the Student Loan for Parents or Education Refinance Loan for Parents. 2.50% – 7.27%1Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Earnest

2.50% – 7.12%3Undergrad & Graduate

Visit SoFi

2.53% – 8.79%4Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Lendkey

2.50% – 6.65%2Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Laurel Road

2.55% – 7.12%5Undergrad & Graduate

Visit CommonBond

3.00% – 9.74%6Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Citizens

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How This Student Loan Borrower Went From Default to Almost Debt-Free

Credit: Sara Burgess Photography, courtesy of Heather Taylor

When Heather Taylor graduated from California Lutheran University in the middle of the Great Recession, she didn’t have an easy time looking for employment.

“It took me at least six months to find a job — 2010 was a poor economic climate all around for work — and that job paid me minimum wage,” Taylor said.

So when repayment kicked in on her $45,000 in student loans, Taylor struggled to keep up. She eventually went into default on some of her loans and ended up adding thousands more in interest to her debt.

It took years of “sacrifice, a lot of hard work and side hustles on top of a full-time job, and tears at 5 a.m. on the phone with Navient,” but she finally got her loans back into good standing and paid off a huge chunk of her balance.

Here’s how Taylor triumphed over her difficult financial situation and is on track to paying off her burdensome student loan debt in its entirety.

Graduating $45k in debt

Originally from Missouri, Taylor went to a private college in California, where she studied communications and journalism. To finance her education, Taylor accessed both federal and private student loans, including a $40,000 loan from Sallie Mae.

“There were seven loans altogether taken out for my undergraduate degree — three private loans with the highest interest rate at 8% and four federal loans with interest rates ranging from 4% to 6%,” said Taylor.

After graduation (and with student loan repayment looming), Taylor searched high and low for a job, but had trouble finding one that paid more than minimum wage. So when full repayment kicked in on her loans, she chose to postpone payments on several of them.

“By then, the loans were demanding much larger payments out of me,” said Taylor. “I deferred repayments for a long time because I simply didn’t earn enough to make the payments required of me.”

But pausing payments doesn’t stop interest from accruing, and Taylor saw her $45,000 balance balloon to more than $56,000.

Struggling to keep up with payments

With a minimum-wage job, followed by a nine-month period of unemployment in 2015, Taylor ultimately fell behind on her student loan payments.

“My ‘strategy’ was the worst possible cautionary tale — a series of deferments, making payments here and there when possible (which was never enough for the loan provider), and eventually defaulting on all three private loans,” said Taylor.

Not only did interest continue to add up, but her variable interest rates rose over time, resulting in an even larger balance. As Taylor puts it, “it was a total nightmare.”

While her debt grew, the pressure also took a toll on her physical and mental health.

“It has made me physically sick for a really long time,” said Taylor. “I have had terrible stomach issues for years because of the amount of stress this debt has put on me.”

Fortunately, she’s been able to turn her financial situation around and is starting to feel healthier as a result.

Getting student loans out of default (by paying them off in full)

One major turning point for Taylor was securing a full-time job at MyCorporation, an online company that helps entrepreneurs start new businesses. She also started freelance writing on the side, authoring a column about brand mascots called PopIcon for Advertising Week.

As she felt more secure in her income, Taylor took a unique approach to dealing with her loans — building up a series of nest eggs. After meeting a big savings goal, she would throw the entire amount at her loans.

“Much of these nest eggs would go towards paying off loans in full, rather than make minimum payments over the course of each month, which wasn’t getting me anywhere,” said Taylor.

There are a few different ways to get student loans out of default, and paying off the balance in full is one of them. But while this approach probably isn’t realistic for most borrowers, Taylor said it was right for her.

She was able to pay off two of her defaulted loans in one fell swoop and get another back into good standing. She also paid off the entire balance of two of her smaller federal student loans, making sure to target loans with the highest interest rates first to save the most money.

Making moves to regain financial control

Along with increasing her income by working a side hustle on top of her full-time job, Taylor also made other lifestyle choices that helped her to repay her debt.

For one thing, she held her spending to a minimum, relying on public transport instead of having a car and renting a room in a shared house.

“I keep my overhead expenses as low as humanly possible,” said Taylor. “It was total spartan behavior, the manner in which I budgeted and lived, and still very much is.”

She also reached out to a financial advisor she saw speak about the student loan crisis on CNBC.

“I wrote down his name and Googled him to see if he could help me out on a pro bono basis with questions I had about my loan,” said Taylor. “He did an awesome job, and his help meant the world to me.”

By increasing her income, reducing expenses and getting professional advice, Taylor was able to pull her loans out of default, slash her student loan balance and take giant leaps toward a debt-free life.

Getting off social media to maintain a positive mindset

Along with changing her financial situation, Taylor made another useful decision: She got off social media.

“One of the most absolutely grueling aspects of repaying student loan debt, especially if you’re doing it alone, is that social media is this ever-constant reminder that seemingly everyone around you has no financial problems,” she said.

Paying off debt can be grueling, as Taylor noted, and it can help your mental health to delete, or at least take a break from, your social media accounts.

“It is very hard to maintain the mindset of giving everything up when all you can see (literally — these websites exist as highlight reels) are your peers having expensive weddings, going on vacations, eating and drinking out and buying homes, while you are chained to the ground with a loan,” said Taylor, encouraging people to remember that almost all of us have challenges when it comes to money, even if it doesn’t appear that way.

“Everyone has financial problems,” said Taylor. “We just don’t discuss them out loud.”

Racing toward the finish line of student loan repayment

As of March 2019, Taylor had gotten her student loan balance down to just $13,000, which she feels confident she can repay within the year.

“What drives me is the push to take back my own life,” said Taylor. “There are so many things I want to do, see, and be with my life, but I will not get anywhere if I do not repay the debt in full and fast.”

While Taylor has had a long road of financial struggle due to her loans, conquering her debt on her own has made her feel empowered.

“[I had] no parents bankrolling me, no cosigners, no spouse and nobody but myself to dig me out of my hole,” she said. “It’s a lonely place, but I am getting there.”

She encourages other borrowers not to give up hope and to realize they can manage their debt on their own, too.

“I’ve been rowing a leaking boat for several years now and somehow always seem to make it to shore, in spite of the odds,” said Taylor. “At the end of the day, the only person who is going to save you is you.”

Interested in refinancing student loans? Here are the top 6 lenders of 2019!

LenderVariable APREligible Degrees Check out the testimonials and our in-depth reviews! 1 Important Disclosures for SoFi. SoFi Disclosures Student loan Refinance:

Earnest fixed rate loan rates range from 3.89% APR (with Auto Pay) to 7.89% APR (with Auto Pay). Variable rate loan rates range from 2.54% APR (with Auto Pay) to 7.27% APR (with Auto Pay). For variable rate loans, although the interest rate will vary after you are approved, the interest rate will never exceed 8.95% for loan terms 10 years or less. For loan terms of 10 years to 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 9.95%. For loan terms over 15 years, the interest rate will never exceed 11.95% (the maximum rates for these loans). Earnest variable interest rate loans are based on a publicly available index, the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Your rate will be calculated each month by adding a margin between 1.82% and 5.50% to the one month LIBOR. The rate will not increase more than once per month. Earnest rate ranges are current as of March 18, 2019, and are subject to change based on market conditions and borrower eligibility.

The information provided on this page is updated as of 0318/2019. Earnest reserves the right to change, pause, or terminate product offerings at any time without notice. Earnest loans are originated by Earnest Operations LLC. California Finance Lender License 6054788. NMLS # 1204917. Earnest Operations LLC is located at 302 2nd Street, Suite 401N, San Francisco, CA 94107. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://www.earnest.com/terms-of-service, email us at [email protected], or call 888-601-2801 for more information on ourstudent loan refinance product.

3 Important Disclosures for Laurel Road. Laurel Road Disclosures

All credit products are subject to credit approval.

4 Important Disclosures for LendKey. LendKey Disclosures

5 Important Disclosures for CommonBond. CommonBond Disclosures

Visit Earnest

2.50% – 7.12%3Undergrad & Graduate

Visit SoFi

2.81% – 8.79%4Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Lendkey

2.50% – 6.65%2Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Laurel Road

2.55% – 7.42%5Undergrad & Graduate

Visit CommonBond

3.00% – 9.74%6Undergrad & Graduate

Visit Citizens

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